Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology 3(10): 1118-1134, 2011 ISSN: 2040-7467 © Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2011 Submitted: June 15, 2011 Accepted: August 05, 2011 Published: October 20, 2011 A Review of Some Water Systems and the Fish Pond Ecosystem 1J.F.N. Abowei and 2E.N. Ezekiel 1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria 2Department of Science Laboratory Technology, School of Applied Science, Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, Rivers State, Nigeria Abstract: A review some water systems and the fish pond ecosystem was carried out to enlighten fish culturist the understanding of the hydrobiology of some water systems. Understanding the hydrobiology of some water systems the fish pond ecosystem is important in culture fisheries management and practices. Biotic characteristics, marine, estuarine and fresh water habitats, lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, Springs: formation, types offspring outlets, flow, classification, water content, historic uses, sacred springs, modern uses, bogs: extent, types of bog and formation; streams: types of stream, parts of stream, source of stream, characteristics of stream, intermittent and ephemeral streams and drainage basins are aspect some water systems and the fish pond ecosystem reviewed in this article to provide the needed hydrobiology knowledge for effective culture fisheries management and practices. Key words: Biotic characteristics, classification, formation, sources and uses, water systems INTRODUCTION Much of the early work of hydro biologists concentrated on the biological processes utilized in sewage treatment The fish culturists need to have proper understanding and water purification especially slow sand filters. Other of the aquatic environment for effective culture fisheries historically important work sought to provide biotic management and practices. The aquatic environment is indices for classifying waters according to the biotic mainly water and its study is hydrobiology (Vaccari, communities that they supported. This work continues to 2005). Hydrobiology is the science of life and life this day in Europe in the development of classification processes in water. Much of modern hydrobiology can be tools for assessing water bodies for the EU water viewed as a sub-discipline of ecology but the sphere of framework directive (Manahan, 2005). hydrobiology includes taxonomy, economic biology, Aquatic ecosystems perform many important industrial biology, morphology, physiology etc. The one environmental functions. For example, they recycle distinguishing aspect is that all relate to aquatic nutrients, purify water, attenuate floods, recharge ground water and provide habitats for wildlife. Aquatic organisms. Much work is closely related to limnology and ecosystems are also used for human recreation, and are can be divided into lotic system ecology (flowing waters) very important to the tourism industry, especially in and lentic system ecology (still waters) (USEPA, 2006). coastal regions (Loeb, 1994). The health of an aquatic One of the significant areas of current research is ecosystem is degraded when the ecosystem's ability to eutrophication. Special attention is paid to biotic absorb a stress has been exceeded. A stress on an aquatic interactions in plankton assemblage including the ecosystem can be a result of physical, chemical or microbial loop, the mechanism of influencing water biological alterations of the environment. Physical blooms, phosphorus load and lake turnover (NRC, 1996). alterations include changes in water temperature, water Another subject of research is the acidification of flow and light availability (Levner et al., 2005). Chemical mountain lakes. Long-term studies are carried out on alterations include changes in the loading rates of bio- changes in the ionic composition of the water of rivers, stimulatory nutrients, oxygen consuming materials, and lakes and reservoirs in connection with acid rain and toxins. Biological alterations include the introduction of fertilization (Moustakas and Karakassis, 2005). exotic species. Human populations can impose excessive One goal of current research is elucidation of the stresses on aquatic ecosystems (Davenport, 2008). basic environmental functions of the ecosystem in An ecosystem is composed of biotic communities reservoirs, which are important for water quality and abiotic environmental factors, which form a management and water supply (Mann and Lazier, 2006). self-regulating and self-sustaining unit. Abiotic Corresponding Author: J.F.N. Abowei, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria 1118 Res. J. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol., 3(10): 1118-1134, 2011 environmental factors of aquatic ecosystems include largest predator in a pond ecosystem will normally be a temperature, salinity, and flow (Daily, 1997). The amount fish and in-between range smaller insects and of dissolved oxygen in a water body is frequently the key microorganisms (USEPA, 2006). It may have a scale of substance in determining the extent and kinds of organic organisms from small bacteria to big creatures like water life in the water body. Fish need dissolved oxygen to snakes, beetles, water bugs, frogs, tadpoles, and turtles. survive. Conversely, oxygen is fatal to many kinds of This is important for the environment. This can be marine, anaerobic bacteria. The salinity of the water body is also estuarine or freshwater. a determining factor in the kinds of species found in the water body (Chapman and Reiss, 1998). Organisms in Marine habitat: Marine ecosystems cover approximately marine ecosystems tolerate salinity, while many 71% of the Earth's surface and contain approximately freshwater organisms are intolerant of salt. Freshwater 97% of the planet's water (NRC, 1996). They generate used for irrigation purposes often absorb levels of salt that 32% of the world's net primary production. They are are harmful to freshwater organisms. Though, some salt distinguished from freshwater ecosystems by the presence can be good for organisms (Boyd et al., 2006). of dissolved compounds, especially salts, in the water. A review of the characteristics of aquatic habitats, Approximately 85% of the dissolved materials in seawater distribution interrelationships and adaptations in the are sodium and chlorine (USEPA, 2006). Seawater has an various aquatic habitats may enhance effective average salinity of 35 parts per thousand (ppt) of water. management of culture fisheries. Biotic characteristics, Actual salinity varies among different marine ecosystems. marine, estuarine and fresh water habitats, lakes, rivers, Marine ecosystems can be divided into the following marshes, swamps, Springs: formation, types offspring zones: oceanic (the open part of the ocean where animals outlets, flow, classification, water content, historic uses, such as whales, sharks, and tuna live); profundal (bottom sacred springs, modern uses, bogs: extent, types of bog or deep water); benthic (bottom substrates); intertidal (the and formation; streams: types of stream, parts of stream, area between high and low tides); estuaries; salt marshes; source of stream, characteristics of stream, intermittent coral reefs; and hydrothermal vents (where and ephemeral streams and drainage basins are aspect chemosynthetic sulfur bacteria form the food base) some water systems and the fish pond ecosystem (USEPA, 2006). Classes of organisms found in marine reviewed in this article to provide the needed ecosystems include brown algae, dinoflagellates, corals, hydrobiology knowledge for effective culture fisheries cephalopods, echinoderms, and sharks. Fish caught in management and practices. marine ecosystems are the biggest source of commercial foods obtained from wild populations. BIOTIC CHARACTERISTICS Environmental problems concerning marine ecosystems include unsustainable exploitation of marine The organisms (also called biota) found in aquatic resources (for example overfishing of certain species), ecosystems are either autotrophic or heterotrophic. marine pollution, climate change, and building on coastal Autotrophic organisms are producers that generate areas (NRC, 1996). The shore and open sea make up a organic compounds from inorganic material. Algae use marine habitat. It can broadly be divided into littoral and solar energy to generate biomass from carbon dioxide and benthic zones. The littoral zone is the region that extends are the most important autotrophic organisms in aquatic over the continental shelf to a depth of about 200 m. environments (USEPA, 2006). Chemosynthetic bacteria Beyond this, the ocean floor can extend to a depth of are found in benthic marine ecosystems. These organisms 10,000 meters. This is the benthic zone (USEPA, 2006). are able to feed on hydrogen sulfide in water that comes The littoral zone can be subdivided into splash zone, from volcanic vents. Great concentrations of animals that inter tidal zone and sub tidal zone. The splash zone is just feed on these bacteria are found around volcanic vents. above the high-tide mark and is wetted by the spray from For example, there are giant tube worms (Riftia breaking waves. The intertidal zone is covered with water pachyptila) 1.5 m in length and clams (Calyptogena during high tide and exposed to air during low tide. This magnifica) 30 cm long (Alexander, 1999). happens twice a day. This zone is also exposed to wave Heterotrophic organisms