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[|Fresh Water Biome Information][|Nature.org Information On Rivers/Animal Inhabitants Of Freshwater Areas]

__Welcome To Durff's Freshwater Biome Wiki __ By: Hots4nickjonas, Mirda, Horsegirl83

**__Temperature __**  =During the summer the top of a body of water is usually 19-25 degrees C, the middle layer cooler with no sun-it is 8-19ºC ,while the bottom of the lake (or other area of water) which does not get any sunlight, is cold -about 4-8ºC. Even in the coldest areas most lakes are too large and to deep that they don’t freeze solid, but rather a layer of ice across the surface. When the ice layer blocks out the sunlight, and oxygen levels drop this kills some plants and animals, this is 'winterkill'. =

**__Algae __**  Algae-the more plantlike organisms in kingdom Protista; Protista; usually can perform photosynthesis and are unable to move by themselves. All fresh water has algae, it can be found in different parts of the world with different kinds and looks. Algae may look like a plant but it isn't, nor is it an animal ot fungi. As they make their food by photosynthesis, algae release algae releases oxygen into the water. Photosynthesis uses sunlight as a source sourse of energy to combine carbon dioxide, water dioxide, water and salts to form chlorophyll. This means algae are is most abundant in summer. When the summertime. So when there is too much algae, algae the decaying algae reduce the oxygen levels in the water, and this reduces the oxygen level in the water and can kill plants and animals. This is called 'summer kill'.  **__Animals __**  *The American alligator ranges throughout the American southeast in freshwater marshes, rivers and swamps, where it basks by day and hunts by night. It is one of North America’s largest reptiles, growing as long as 18 feet. Hunted widely for its meat and belly skin, which makes high quality leather, the alligator was listed as endangered in 1967, conservation efforts prevailed, however, and the creature was removed from the Endangered Species List in 1987. Over a million now live in the wild.  *The river otters pelt varies from rich brown to almost black with pale brown on the throat, chin, cheeks, and chin. They grow about 3-4 feet long and may weigh more than 20 pounds, though most are somewhat less rotund. Aided by its webbed toes, a river otter can dive up to 60 feet deep and swim as fast as 7 miles per hour, for a quarter of a mile before coming up to breathe.  *The hippopotamus is a large, mostly plant-eating mammal found in rivers and lakes throughout Africa. It is semi aquatic and can grow up to 11 feet long, 5 feet tall and weigh up to 1.5 tons. It has been known to live up to 45 years in the wild. At night, the hippopotamus moves inland to graze in short grasslands. Despite their considerable bulk, hippopotamuses are graceful underwater swimmers and can run faster than humans on land, at an estimated 18 to 30 miles per hour.

**__<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0)">Rivers and Streams __** <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0)">Rivers and streams are moving bodies of water. Rivers are large and flow into the ocean. Rivers and streams account for about 3% of the earth's fresh water. Rivers and streams drain the earth of excess water. Most water runs off the surface and eventually joins a stream. Small streams join together to form rivers. Sometimes small rivers join together to become large rivers. When this happens, the small rivers are called tributaries. A watershed is an area of land where rain water, streams and small rivers all drain into one large area of water. Because ground water also drains from a watershed, all kinds of pollution can find its way to the ocean from distances away. The mouth of a river is where it meets the ocean, rivers carry soil with them as the grow closer to the ocean or sea, and this is dropped at the mouth of the river as it enters the ocean, and gradually builds up, making new land. This is called a delta. Rivers tend to branch off in many directions through the delta, creating many islands.

**__<span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)">Terms __** <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> * Summer kill-during the summer when there is too much algae and decaying algae in water reduces the oxygen level in the water and can kill plants and animal. <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> * Protista-a kingdom that has organisms such as plantlike organisms that usually perform photosynthesis <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> *Winter kill-a thin layer of ice that forms across the surface of an area of deep water, this ice blocks out sunlight causing oxygen levels to drop and killing a few plants and animals. <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> <span style="color: rgb(172, 0, 86)"> *Watershed- an area of land where rain water, streams and small rivers all drain into one large area of water such as a large river, lake or ocean.