There are some similarities and differences between the standing water ecosystems and fresh water ecosystems. Both standing water and fresh water ecosystems are the sub-classes of major group of ecosystem called fresh water ecosystem. Both these ecosystems support the life forms. The life forms in the both ecosystems are adapted to withstand the water flow.
Life forms of both the ecosystems vary widely with each other due to the flow of water current. Planktons are found in the standing water ecosystem where as they are absent in the flowing water ecosystem. Circulation of water in the standing-water ecosystem helps in the circulation of heat, oxygen, and nutrients within the ecosystem. Water flow subsides in the flowing-water ecosystem form the point of origin by the time it reaches the flattened ground. This flow brings high content of sediment that helps in supporting more varieties of plants.