An Aquatic ecosystem is a habitat comprising living beings residing within a water body that could be either marine or freshwater.
The living beings include animals, fishes, snails, reptiles, plants, and microbial flora in the sea and oceans.
The aquatic system consists of more than 70% of the earth.
All the human waste, rainfall water, rivers, etc., flow toward the oceans.
So, in some way, these aquatic bodies act as dump yards beyond the limit.
But from the time life emerged on Earth, there has been a balanced aquatic ecosystem.
Due to pollution, petroleum refineries, and industrial dumps, the aquatic ecosystem is losing its health.
Currently, the aquatic system is highly polluted in some areas and is in grave danger of extinction.
If we continue this level of exploitation, then more of the ecosystem gets damaged and can go extinct.
What is Aquatic Ecosystem
Aquatic ecosystem:
- The aquatic ecosystem comprises the living organisms in the aquatic world.
- There is a food chain within every aquatic ecosystem.
- This chain is a way of the mutual existence of living beings. It includes microbes, plants, fishes, animals, insects, reptiles, mollusks, etc. (both fresh and marine waters).
Plants———-> Small Fish——–> Big Fish———>Man

Importance of aquatic ecosystem:
1. Source of fish:
- The aquatic ecosystem is the biggest source of fish, which is vital food for humans. Fish food is rich in vitamins, especially preformed vitamin A.
- This fish meat is also a good diet as it is subjected to minimal artificial chemicals and processed foods.
- Further, they are free from any infections and diseases compared to other meat-producing animals and fish grown in fish ponds.
- Besides fish, humans also consume prawns, oysters, snails, crabs, etc.
- From a fish diet, one can even get omega fatty oils, which are good for cardiac health.
- Due to global warming, scientists suspect that land area for cultivation will go down as ocean levels rise.
- Then, the only sources of food for humans are fish and other marine foods.
- So, they are even exploring ways to sustain life by depending on marine food in the future.
2. Source of medicine:
The Marine aquatic system is also a major source of medicines. We use them on a regular basis to promote life span and get rid of diseases.
The examples include
♦ Calcium from oyster:
- Calcium is the key supplement for bone strength.
- It is one of the largest sold supplements in the world owing to its demand for old age and also orthopedic injuries.
- Such a large demand for organic calcium is met from the marine supply.
- Even the normal calcium carbonate available from land is also sold, but it is less preferred than oyster calcium.
- This is because oyster calcium has better absorbance into the blood and is more effective in healing bone-related problems.
- So, when you buy a calcium strip, notice the label next time. It says either organic calcium or oyster calcium.
- This oyster calcium is obtained from the oyster shells from the marine.
♦ Cod liver oil: This oil is obtained from fish for its omega-3 oils.
♦ Shark liver oil: Sharks are the deadly animals of the aquatic ecosystem. But still, they are useful to man. Shark liver oil has many claims, such as wound healing.
♦ Anti-cancer drugs:
Marine life is said to be a source of many anti-cancer drugs. Ex: Yondelis, kahalalide F, Bryostatin
They are obtained from sponges and algae.
♦ Alginic acid: This is derived from brown algae. It is used as a gelling agent in food, medicine preparation, and cell immobilization.
♦ Agar: A jelly material obtained from red algae is used as a suspension medium for tissue culture and bacterial culture.
3. Salt for cooking:
- Table Salt is made from seawater by a drying process.
- This is one of the oldest industries, and it provides revenue for many people in the region.
4. Transport
- Transport by sea or ocean is one of the least expensive methods.
- This method of transport has been in place for many centuries. Now, they transport goods by ship from one seaport to the other.
- Though we have travel options by air and land, they are expensive and hence only small quantities and items can be transported.
- But those that are to be exported in bulk, like wheat, petroleum, etc., are done by ships.
- This is time-consuming, but it is very cheap compared to other modes of transport.
5. Source of minerals:
- Aquatic beds are some of the richest sources of minerals, petroleum, and other products.
- Hence, you can notice countries trying to claim entire seas and oceans as theirs.
- It is also believed that there are many ores, diamonds, gems, and other valuables in the sea bed.
- Even pearls, which are expensive gemstones, are obtained from pearl oysters aquatic animals.
In fisheries farming:
- Fisheries are another means of farming for agriculturists.
- The land can be converted to ponds to grow fish, prawns, etc.
- This acts as a good revenue source for many farmers.
- This fishery business is possible due to the aquatic ecosystem.
The aquatic ecosystem, especially the marine, is getting polluted greatly due to oil spillage, chemical pollution, plastic waste, and excess use of insecticides and pesticides.
This leads to the death of many fish and marine animals.
Further, humans desire whale meat and other exploitation for petroleum, leading to an imbalance in the aquatic ecosystem.
We need to take steps to conserve this ecosystem for the benefit of life on the earth.
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