Transcript Gulf Sturgeon PPT

Marine Science
Ecology Unit
Slides taken from Kelly Cook
DRL-1316782
Flow of Energy
Through an ecosystem: Sun
producers
consumers
decomposers
Oceanic Food Chain
Trophic Pyramid
• Only 10% of
energy is
transferred
from one
trophic
level to the
next.
• The rest is
lost as heat
Based on this information, what types of foods are the most
energy efficient for humans to consume?
Gulf Sturgeon Food Web
Anadrmous Species
• Adult anadrmous species live
and feed in the Gulf or oceans
waters, but they spawn in fresh
water rives.
• Examples of these types of
species are salmon, lampreys,
and Gulf Sturgeons
Habitat and Niche
• Habitat: includes the area
and conditions in which
you find an organism.
• An organism’s role in its
habitat- niche
• The Gulf sturgeon is a
first order carnivore and
bottom feeder.
• Think of the organism’s
habitat as its address and
the niche as its job.
How Climate Change is Influencing Populations
According the Fish and Wildlife some factors contributing
the decline of Gulf sturgeon related to Climate Change:
•“More frequent or prolonged algal blooms may result from longer growing seasons
predicted with climate change (FWC 2009). Red tides will likely continue to increase in
frequency. Based on the best available information, toxins associated have likely killed
Gulf sturgeon at both the juvenile and adult life stages.”
• Direct impacts to the Gulf sturgeon and its habitat continue to affect its continued
existence through: 1) present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of
its habitat or range; 2) inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and 3) other
natural or manmade factors.
How Climate Change is Influencing Populations
•
Anticipated increase in storm activity as a result of climate change would
increase frequency of fish kills
•
Climate change has potential implications for the status of the Gulf sturgeon
through alteration of its habitat. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC 2007) concluded that it is very likely that heat waves, heat
extremes, and heavy precipitation events over land will increase during this
century. Warmer water, sea level rise and higher salinity levels could lead tom
accelerated changes in habitats utilized by Gulf sturgeon.
•
Saltwater intrusion into freshwater systems could negatively impact freshwater
fish and wildlife habitat (FWC 2009) resulting in more saline inland waters that
may eventually lead to major changes in inland water ecosystems and a
reduction in the amount of available freshwater. Changes in water temperature
may alter the growth and life history of fishes, and even moderate changes
can make a difference in distribution and number (FWC 2009)