Temperature7

Factors of Temperature
 * Depth
 * Sunlight
 * Current and Velocity
 * Plant Life

Many things in the streams ecosystem affect the temperature of the water. The largest factor of temperature in streams/rivers is the sun. The deeper the water the colder it is because the sunlight can not penetrate all the way through the water. The reason sunlight can not make it all the way through is because water is matter and matter stacks and becomes less transparent. Sunlight is needed for the growth of vegetation which also affects the temperature of streams/rivers. Another thing that has an impact on temperature is seasonal changes. Also Water with little to no circulation tends to experience vertical variation.

Temperature is very important because it effects the species living in the streams or rivers. If it is to cold some species may not be able to live there and if it is to warm some species may not be able to live there. It can also change the food that an organism eats. Different temperatures cause different vegetation and with different vegetation you have different organisms.

Humans impact the temperature of streams/rivers by cutting down trees allowing for more sunlight to reach the body of water and change the temperature.

Seasonal changes alter the temperature of streams and rivers.