There are many different factors which create an active aquatic environment. These elements control the distribution of plants and animals in a liquid column of water. The balance of co-existence and dependency sets the levels of each ecosystem. This can tilt in either direction due to climatic conditions, or by intervention by other perdition activity. All of these determine whether an aquatic environment has viable sustainable life. The equalibrium can swing from peak production to die off, to generate the foundation. These chain of raw nutrients will build a cycle of life to a point of balance through existence or extinction.

Aquatic ecology is a part of nature developing in harmony within its own environmental parameters. As divers entering that world we must realize that we have an unnatural effect on it. We must be be extremely careful that we do not interfere in a way that would permanently disrupt the required balance for it to survive.

The impact has been far reaching in past years prior to the world becoming conscious of conservation. far reaching and is hard to measure or notice the change. Only those which have spent ten years or more of observing the aquatic life can see the true impact of how distributions of plants and marine life have changed drasticly in only the last ten years.

So what do we know. First is that of the SUN is the controlling force which produces the element of energy which is required for any type of life to be present. Second is the medium for existence to occupy, which is either gas or liquid forms. Third is the minerals either in dissolved or suspended form. These three elements provide the bases for life to be generated through a repeating cycle.

Next is those of the aquatic environment, these are divided based on the color spectrum penetration to certain depths. This establishes the boundaries for temperature and plant life distributions, and sets boundaries of the organisms which have dependency of these limiting factors. Thus setting the realms of each ecosystem of each community of life. The volume of occupancy is determined by the consumption and re distribution of the energy and nutriments.

Understanding of Reef Ecology Elements of Understanding Coral Reef Ecology Understanding the Marine Environment Diver Awarenesss  The Foundation of Understanding Aquatic Ecology of Artifical Reefs

Photo of Monte at Pirates Week Festivale 2008

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Web site first created 14 March, 1996