Transcript 4.1 & 4.2C Ocean Life PPt

Ch 4.1/4.2C
Messana
Ocean Life
**3 Categories:
 1. Bottom-Dwellers (Benthic)
 2. Floaters
 3. Swimmers
Which is which? ->
**All marine organisms live in a HABITAT =
 An ENVIRONMENT that has all the
NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS for an organism
to LIVE!!
ESTUARIES
(at coastlines)
 Area where FRESH WATER from rivers & SALT
WATER from the ocean MIXES!
 SALINITY changes constantly
 Salinity is lower in open ocean, higher in
rivers/lakes
 Breeding grounds for many organisms;
organisms have specific adaptations
WETLANDS
 Along edges of ESTUARIES
 WET, SWAMPY AREAS that are FLOODED with water
 2 Types:
 1.)SALT MARSHES ~ Coastal Wetlands in COOL AREAS
Nutrient rich SOIL
 Thick grasses
 2.)MANGROVE FORESTS ~ Coastal Wetlands in WARM
AREAS
 Found closer to the EQUATOR (Southern US)
 Mangrove shrubs & trees with thick roots extending
into water
Human Harm to Wetlands:
- clearing of land
- pollution from industry/shipping

WETLAND LIFE
 Migrating BIRDS use these areas as REST
STOPS
 Habitat for WILDLIFE
 Grasses & root systems keep SHORELINE from
washing away, hold sediment in place
 ORGANISMS break down the GRASSES, return
NUTRIENTS to the MARSHES
Intertidal Zone
 Area of coastline between HIGH & LOW
tide
 The HABITAT at the EDGE of the ocean
 DRY & EXPOSED to SUNLIGHT during
LOW TIDE
 50 % of the WORLD’S POPULATION live within 50
miles of the COAST
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PROTECTION of the SHORELINES:
1) Improve sewage treatment plants
2)Laws to restrict dumping
3) Set up Shoreline Sanctuaries
OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS –
AWAY FROM THE COAST
WATERS near the SHORE~
 1.)Supports the greatest variety of life
(=BIODIVERSITY) of any part of the ocean
 BACTERIA, PROTISTS, PLANTS, ANIMALS
 2.) Continental SHELF area
 3.) SUNLIGHT reaches the bottom
 4.) Many NUTRIENTS entering from the land
 5.) TEMPERATURE & SALINITY fairly CONSTANT
CORAL REEFS
 Found in TROPICAL WARM WATERS
 A build-up of LIMESTONE remains after the
CORAL ORGANISM dies
 ALGAE live inside the reef & PRODUCE FOOD
 Contains over 25% of all species of ocean life
 ENDANGERED area due to POLLUTION &
OVERFISHING
 Australia’s GREAT BARRIER REEF
 Can be seen from outer space!
Kelp Forests
 Found in COLD WATERS
 Large areas of SEAWEED
 Uses SUN to make food via
photosynthesis
 Habitat for many ORGANISMS
 EX: fish, otters, snails, crabs, worms
OPEN OCEAN
Environments Change w/ DEPTH
1) LIFE is more SPREAD OUT
2) NUTRIENTS sink down
3) SUNLIGHT reaches ONLY the top
4) NO SHELTER for ORGANISMS
SURFACE ZONE
 1) Top 200 meters
 2) SUNLIT
 3) PHYTOPLANKTON
 Plant-like microscopic FLOATING organisms; do
photosynthesis to convert SUNLIGHT & CO2 to
GLUCOSE & O2
 4) ZOOPLANKTON – animal-like; feed on the
phytoplankton
 5) OCEAN ANIMALS - eat the zooplankton
DEEP ZONE
 1) DARK, COLD, HIGH PRESSURE
 2) NO PLANTS
 3) PREDATORS eat PREY OR food comes down
from above (nutrients, dead organisms)
 5) Organisms may GLOW in the dark =
BIOLUMINESCENCE
 6) Small eyes or none at all, prehistoric-looking
 7) Animal communities found on deep ocean
floor = HYDROTHERMAL VENTS
 Cold water goes into cracks in the crust & gets
HEATED BY MAGMA
 BACTERIA = base of the food chain here, no
sunlight or plants needed