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Essay / Clean Water Environment Essay - 1727
Water temperatures which are important in all biological systems affect aquatic environments; this includes organic chemistry and growth and mortality rates of aquatic life. Warmer climates and higher nutrient concentrations result in competition between phytoplankton and cyanobacteria in favor of cyanobacteria, disrupting the balance of aquaculture. (Depla et al, 2009). Plankton is an essential source of food for larger animals. Phytoplankton constitute the first link in the food chain. They are known as primary producers because they produce the first forms of food. The disappearance of plankton would certainly affect the food chain, but there would be another problem if phytoplankton were to disappear: they provide the majority of the oxygen in the atmosphere. With the increase in invasive species, important elements of aquatic ecosystems are diminished and biodiversity is threatened. Biological ecosystems are moving into waters that are unnatural due to climate change, causing overpopulation and competition that creates an unhealthy environment and bionetwork. Aquatic ecosystems have a specific buffering capacity, but once these buffering systems reach their maximum capacity, significant and often rapid ecosystem changes that affect water quality can occur (Murdoch, 2000). The complexity of aquatic ecosystems and