Ecology of the systems lotic

The lotic ecology of system is the study of the interractions Biotique S and Abiotique S in flows of continental running water. With the ecology of the systems lentic, which implies less dynamic continental water like Lac S or pond S, these fields form the field of studies more general of fresh water or the watery ecology.

The mediums lotic take very diverse forms, energy of the Ruisseau not very broad to large the Fleuve several kilometers broad, but have invariances which justify their common study. One thus observes some common characteristics returning the ecology of running water single compared to the other watery habitats: the floods are one-way; these systems are in a state of continual physical change; there is an high degree of space and temporal heterogeneity on all scales (Microhabitat S); variability between the systems lotic is high; the " biota" is specialized to live under the conditions of the floods.

Important abiotic factors

Flows

Flows are the key abiotic operator in the systems lotic which influence their ecology. The force of water flows can vary according to the systems, according to a continuum of torrents fast or slow, the Remou S are almost seen like systems lentic. The speed of water flows can be variable inside the systems and between different systems. It is typically based on the variability of friction with the bottom and the edges of the channel, the sinuosity, the obstructions, and the steepness.

Light

The light is important for the systems lotic, because it produces energy necessary to carry out the primary Productivité via Photosynthèse, and can also produce a refuge for the species preys in the shades that gives. Quantity of light which a system receives perhaps connected to a combination of variables of internal and external flows. The surface surrounding a small brook, for example, can be shade by forests or cliffs. Moreover great systems of river tend to being broad, thus the influence of the external variables is reduced, and the sun gains surface. These rivers also tend to being more turbulent, and the particles in water attenuate the luminosity when the depth increases.

Temperature

The majority of the lotic species are Poïkilotherme S whose internal temperature varies with their environment, and thus the temperature is a key abiotic factor.

See too

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