Where is this biome located?

All over the world! Fresh water can be found on every continent, and each ecosystem is a little bit different. A few things they all have in common, however, are:

• They support amphibious life

• They are surrounded by different plant life

• They provide life to multiple species in and around the water

 

What makes something "freshwater?"

To be freshwater, the water must have less than 1% salt content

 

Freshwater ecosystems must all be the same because they're a part of the same biome, right?

Wrong! There are many different ecosystems in all different parts of the world, and though they are all freshwater, that does not make them the same. Each ecosystem contains varied plant and animal life, making each one different.

 

How common are freshwater ecosystems?

Roughly 20% of the Earth is covered with the freshwater aquatic biome.