What Is a River Habitat?
A river habitat refers to the environment in which living organisms can survive in and around a river. This might refer to wildlife or plants. Most people think of fish when they think of a river habitat, which is true; fish often live in these types of habitats. Other wildlife though, such as microscopic creatures that live in the water, rocks, or soil, also call rivers home. In addition, many different types of plants live along the river bed and on the sides of the river, which can function as smaller habitats.
It is important to keep in mind when considering habitats and ecosystems that everything is connected. A river habitat can be viewed as one large habitat, or as a series of smaller habitats, each of which relies on the other to function properly. As a result, many things can affect a river habitat; changes to the river bank or the plants along the sides of the river can contribute to erosion. Pollution from stormwater runoff can also negatively impact the habitat, as well as people who litter and throw their trash on the ground rather than in the garbage can. Salinity and temperature changes in the river can also have an impact on river habitats.
In order for any river habitat to be successful, a wide mix of plant and wildlife species is generally required. This is because it is necessary for food chains, also known as trophic levels, to exist in ecosystems. The types of plant and wildlife species that will be found in a river habitat vary greatly depending on the region of the world the river is found. Fish, plankton, and insects are some of the most common; mammals such as beavers may also build habitats along a river. Other wildlife, such as deer, may also use the river as a source of clean drinking water.
Wildlife may venture out of their their river habitats to search for food or for other purposes. The river habitat generally represents the place where they will return to sleep safely, to store collected food, or to remain camouflaged from potential predators. For these reasons, it is important to be careful when fishing or playing in and around a river, and be aware of all the potential habitats that are around. Taking extra care will ensure the habitats aren't damaged, and that they remain a safe place for wildlife to live.
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AS FEATURED ON:
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![A river running through a forest.]()
A river running through a forest. -
![A wetland river.]()
By: ElenathewiseA wetland river.
Discussion Comments
@irontoenail - It's easy if there haven't been many changes to the river habitat in the first place. Most rivers that are anywhere near human settlements have been dammed though, and in some cases permanently changed the local landscape.
Even small river dams can disrupt the water ecosystem completely, as they block migrating fish from moving up to the source of the river and spreading nutrients as they go. I heard in one case scientists put salmon carcasses in a river where they once went to die after spawning (before a dam was built) and then compared the ecosystem with another river that had also lost it's natural salmon. The river with the carcasses experienced a huge increase in diversity and strength of flora and fauna.
It's not something that would really occur to the average person as being essential to an ecosystem, but you notice the difference when it's taken away.
@Iluviaporos - It's often in a communities best interests to protect their waterways as well. Mistreatment of river ecosystems can lead to polluted water, flooding, decrease of animal species and, ultimately, nutrient overload and algae blooms in the nearby oceans.
And honestly, it's not that hard to clean up a river. Usually all that's needed is litter clearing and for the community to fence it off from livestock and plant suitable plants along the banks to filter rainwater.
I feel like rivers are often neglected when it comes to environmental projects. A lot of attention is paid to oceans, particularly ocean habitats where there are food or tourist species and little concern is given towards maintaining the conditions necessary to keep the rivers that feed those oceans clean and healthy.
I suspect it's because rivers are so strongly connected with the land and land use. They are often the first thing to be modified when people settle in a place, and once they have been changed they can be difficult to change back, even if it's the best thing to do.
River ecosystems also seem to be more delicate than ocean systems and are easily disrupted even if it's not deliberate.
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