Which inland habitats are classified as lotic ecosystems?

In the study of inland water ecosystems, habitats are broadly categorized based on the movement of water. Lotic ecosystems are defined as running-water habitats.1

These ecosystems include the following types of inland water bodies:
* Rivers12
* Streams12
* Brooks12

Lotic environments are distinguished from lentic (standing-water) habitats by their unidirectional flow, generally linear morphology, and typically shallow depth. While lotic systems are often characterized by constant low salinity, they exhibit a wide diversity of physical forms and biological habitats, ranging from small, temporary streams found in arid regions to large, permanent tropical rivers. The biological communities within these systems are highly specialized to thrive in flowing water, and ecological processes—such as the downstream transport of nutrients—are distinct from those found in standing-water bodies.23