This document provides an overview of different types of aquatic ecosystems including freshwater ecosystems like lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands and streams as well as marine ecosystems like coastal wetlands, estuaries, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and oceans. It describes key characteristics of different habitats and zones within these ecosystems and lists factors that determine the types of organisms that can live there, as well as threats facing various aquatic environments.