CONTENTS What are freshwater biomes Freshwater around the world Freshwater plants 4 6 8 River life 10 Lake life 12 Wetland life Estuary life 14 16 Born survivors 18 Eat or be eaten 20 People and freshwater biomes Freshwater resources Freshwater threats Freshwater futures Glossary Find out more Index 22 24 26 28 30 31 32
WHAT ARE FRESHWATER BIOMES From rushing rivers to calm lakes and soggy marshes freshwater biomes are some of the most varied in the world Freshwater biomes have one main thing in common they usually contain water with less than one percent salt compared to seawater which is 3 5 percent salt The freshwater four Rivers plus smaller streams are places where freshwater flows across land toward an ocean or lake Lakes along with ponds are areas of still water surrounded by land Wetlands are areas of land such as marshes bogs and wet meadows where water covers the soil for all or part of the year Estuaries are the places where rivers flow into the sea and the freshwater they contain meets and mixes with salty seawater Many rivers start as streams near the top of a mountain and their water flows quickly downhill Fact Focus Biome or Habitat Biomes are regions of the world such as deserts forests rivers oceans tundra and grassland that have a similar climate plants and animals A habitat is the specific place in a biome where a plant or animal lives 4
Freshwater life A whole range of living things has adapted to life in freshwater biomes Trees reeds irises and other plants grow in the damp soil at the water’s edge Some plants such as water lilies live in the water Freshwater animals such as tiny water fleas snails and fish live underwater Other animals including enormous crocodiles and anaconda snakes visit the water to feed Vital resource Freshwater plants and animals have an advantage over those living on dry land because they usually have a constant supply of water Living things are made up mostly of water and they need to constantly replenish this water to survive Skimmers fly low over freshwater lakes plowing their large beaks through the water as they go Their beaks snap shut to trap any fish they scoop up Amazing Adaptation Adaptations are special features or body parts that living things use to help them survive in a biome Diving beetles store air bubbles under their wing cases while they are at a lake’s surface They use the air bubbles as an air supply when they hunt underwater 5
