Although the nutrient-poor soil of the French territory limits its terrestrial flora and fauna the archipelago's waters are among the world's most scenic species-rich spots.
The influence of the biological component on ecosystem is often greater in fresh waters than in marine or terrestrial systems, because of the small size of many freshwater bodies.
Not all of Earth's waters are able to support life, and the limits of terrestrial life are sharply defined by water's temperature, acidity and salinity.