<1 mg L-1

<100 mg L-1

<1000 mg L-1

Mg, CaCO3, HCO3

Mg, Na, Ca

Mg, Na, Cl

0.25 %

2.5%

25 %

Niche

Biosphere

Ecosystem

Periphyton are free-floating plants/algae, that are suspended in the water column.
Phytoplankton are algae that are attached to substrates such as rocks (epitlithic phytoplankton) and larger plants/macrophytes (epiphytic phytoplankton)

Phytoplankton are free-floating plants/algae, that are suspended in the water column.
Periphyton are algae that are attached to substrates such as rocks (epitlithic periphyton) and larger plants/macrophytes (epiphytic periphyton)

Standing waters

Ephemeral waters

Flowing waters

Respiration, Productivity, Reproduction, Ontogeny, Feeding, Emersion, Diffusion

Respiration, Physical forces, Reproduction, Osmoregulation, Feeding, Emersion, Dispersal

Respiration, Photosynthesis, Reproduction, Oncology, Feeding, Emersion, Disposal

High volume ecosystems = high buffering capacity
Low surface area to volume ratio = small temperature fluctuations (affect 02 dissolving/diffusion rate).
Variable organic loading = low microbial oxygen demand
High photosynthetic oxygen production

Small volume ecosystems = High buffering capacity
High surface area to volume ratio = wide temperature fluctuations (affect 02 dissolving/diffusion rate).
Low organic loading = high microbial oxygen demand
High photosynthetic oxygen production

Small volume ecosystems = low buffering capacity
High surface area to volume ratio = wide temperature fluctuations (affect 02 dissolving/diffusion rate).
Variable organic loading = variable microbial oxygen demand
Variable photosynthetic oxygen production

Spatial isolation increases speciation. Temporal impermanence decreases speciation.

Spatial isolation decreases speciation. Temporal impermanence increases speciation.

Anhydrobiosis means life without water. It is a form of desiccation resistance that some vertebrates exhibit (African lungfish).

Anhydrobiosis means life without water. It is a form of desiccation resistance that some invertebrates exhibit (tardigrades, rotifers, chironimids).

Anhydrobiosis means life without water. It is a form of desiccation resistance that some algae exhibit.

Lakes tend to be bigger and are mixed primarily through atmospheric turbulence (wind). Ponds tend to be smaller and are mixed primarily through thermal convection currents.

Lakes tend to be bigger and are mixed primarily through thermal convection currents. Ponds tend to be smaller and are mixed primarily through atmospheric turbulence (wind).

Benthos are the organisms that spend the majority of their time in the water column. Plankton are the organisms that spend the most of their time in the bed sediments (lake or river).

Plankton are the organisms that spend the majority of their time in the water column. Benthos are the organisms that spend the most of their time in the bed sediments (lake or river).

Plankton are the organisms that spend the majority of their time in the subsurface environments. Benthos are the organisms that spend the most of their time in the bed sediments (lake or river).

The critical depth

The boundary depth

The compensation depth

Vannote et al (1980)

Begon et al (1980)

Townsend et al (1980)

Energy or matter derived from within the freshwater ecosystem (e.g. phytoplankton and fungal spores)

Energy or matter derived from outside of the freshwater ecosystem (e.g. terrestrial leaf fall into a river; bat guano in a cave)

Hyporheos

Soil water

Groundwater

Subsurface thermal regimes are more stable than their terrestrial counterparts; they are warmer than the terrestrial minimum, but cooler than the terrestrial maximum.

Subsurface thermal regimes are more variable than their terrestrial counterparts; they are cooler than the terrestrial minimum, but warmer than the terrestrial maximum.

Subsurface thermal regimes are identical to their terrestrial counterparts

Stygophile

Stygobite

Stygobites are R-selected species; they are adapted to high resource availability but environmental variability

Stygobites are K-selected species; they are adapted to high resource availability and environmental constancy

Stygobites are A-selected species; they are adapted to poor resource availability but environmental constancy

A temporary waterbody

A waterbody on the fringe of a catchment

An isolated waterbody

To decrease the speed of removal of flood waters in order to protect land/properties.
To abandon land and impede drainage.
To impede navigability for vessels.

To increase the speed of removal of flood waters in order to protect land/properties.
To reclaim land and improve drainage.
To improve navigability for vessels.

Catchment Abstraction Drainage System (CADS).

Catchment Abstraction Management System (CAMS).

Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)

EU Freshwater Fisheries Directive

EU Shellfisheries Directive

EU Water Framework Directive

Nitrogen

Phosphorus

Potassium

Oligotrophic

Mesotrophic

Eutrophic

Environment Agency

European Environment Agency

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Kick sample

Surber sampler

Grab sample