Aquatic habitats in forest ecosystems

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

8 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/21/2008

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

Ecology & environment

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Summary :

Introduction.
Forested w.etlands
Peat bog forests.
1. Distribution.
2. Physicochemical characteristics.
3. Aquatic biota.
Swamp forests.
1. Distribution.
2. Physicochemical characteristics.
3. Aquatic biota.
Floodplain (Alluvial) forests.
Mangrove forests.
Container habitats (Phytotelmata).
Conclusion.

Abstract

There is a wide variety of aquatic habitats found in forested areas ranging from water-ﬁlled tree holes through to large rivers, lakes, and inundated forests. This article initially reviews the classiﬁcation of aquatic habitats and some of their important geomorphological, physicochemical, and biological parameters. Following this, different classes of aquatic habitats in forests are presented in outline with consideration of their global distributions, deﬁning abiotic characteristics and aquatic biota. A broad distinction has been made between aquatic habitats where the forest itself forms part of the habitat matrix (forested wetlands) and those where the forest is only on the periphery (water bodies in forests). Four subdivisions of forested wetlands are discussed: (1) peat bog forests, (2) swamp forests, (3) ﬂoodplain forests, and (4) mangrove forests, and three types of water bodies in forests: (1) container habitats (phytotelmata), (2) ponds and lakes, and (3) streams and rivers. For the latter groups, emphasis has been placed on the differences in characteristics when compared to non-forested ecosystems.