Is this section going to be talking about the ecosystem or the types of things that can be found in this ecosystem? (or both)

The variability in climate, geology and landforms give rise to great diversity in freshwater ecosystems.

For example, the tectonic uplift that gave rise to our mountains also formed the patterns of braided rivers in the eastern Te Waipounamu/South Island. Glaciation events and earthquakes have driven the formation of many lakes.

Over 85% of our described freshwater species are nationally endemic, which highlights the degree of speciation that has occurred through the country’s geographic isolation.