aquatic-ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems are biological communities found in water bodies—both marine and freshwater—where organisms interact with each other and their environment. These ecosystems are fundamental to plant science because they support diverse aquatic plant communities with specialized adaptations to water-based life and drive essential ecological processes such as oxygen production, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-02-18
Natural biofilms made of microorganisms and algae can effectively clean polluted water by breaking down and absorbing contaminants, offering an inexpensive, nature-based solution for restoring contaminated rivers and water systems.
Periphytic biofilms can remove contaminants even at very low concentrations due to their extensive adhesion to solid surfaces in water systems
Biofilms employ multiple contaminant removal mechanisms including sorption, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, and biotransformation
These biofilms simultaneously support river ecosystem health through carbon and nutrient cycling while performing self-purification functions