Transcript Marine Biomes

Marine Biomes
Biome
 A biome is a major, geographically extensive
ecosystem, structurally characterized by its dominant
life forms
 Most of the oceans are considered part of a single
biome, although areas with particularly unusual or
unique physical characteristics or inhabitants may be
considered as separate biomes
Marine Biomes
 Marine biomes make up the largest percentage
of aquatic biomes on Earth. Unlike freshwater
biomes, these biomes involve a medium to high
percentage of salt in the water
Marine Biomes
 are extremely important to how our Earth
currently functions. Marine biomes supply much
of the world's oxygen through algae plants. They
also take in gigantic amounts of carbon dioxide
from our atmosphere
Marine biomes
 Include:
 oceans
 coral reefs
 and estuaries
Oceans
 An ocean (from Greek
Okeanos) is a major body
of saline water, and a
principal component of
the hydrosphere.
 Approximately 71% of the
Earth's surface (an area of
some 361 million square
kilometers) is covered by
ocean
Oceans
 The major oceanic divisions are defined in part by the
continents: these divisions are (in descending order of
size)
 the Pacific Ocean
 the Atlantic Ocean
 the Indian Ocean
 the Southern Ocean
 the Arctic Ocean
World Oceans
Oceans
 Ocean biomes are the largest of all the biomes.
Because they cover such a large region, they are
divided into zones.
 There are four ocean zones:
 intertidal,
 pelagic,
 abyssal,
 and benthic
Intertidal zone
 The intertidal zone is most commonly know as the
tidal zone. This is the area where the ocean meets the
shore. This zone changes greatly throughout the day,
depending upon the ocean's tides
Pelagic zone
 The pelagic zone is more commonly known as the
open ocean. It is the farthest area from the shoreline.
The temperature of this zone changes frequently due
to the constant mixing of cold and warm ocean
currents.
Benthic zone
 The area below the pelagic zone is called the benthic
zone. This area goes all the way to the bottom of the
ocean floor. In this zone, as the water gets deeper, the
temperature gets cooler and the ocean gets darker
Abyssal zone
 The deepest zone is called the abyssal zone. This zone
includes mid-ocean ridges. Mid-ocean ridges are the
spreading zones between the techtonic plates. Here
you would find high oxygen content, little light, high
pressure, and large amounts of hydrogen sulfide and
other various minerals
How did the oceans form?
 Video
Oceans
 One of the most dramatic forms of weather occurs over the
oceans: tropical cyclones (also called "typhoons" and
"hurricanes" depending upon where the system forms).
 Ocean currents greatly affect the Earth's climate by
transferring warm or cold air and precipitation to coastal
regions, where they may be carried inland by winds.
 The Antarctic Circumpolar Current encircles that
continent, influencing the area's climate and connecting
currents in several oceans.
Coral reefs
 Coral reefs are usually found in shallow, warm waters.
They are found along continents, islands, and atolls.
Coral reefs are made of algae and tissues of animal
polyp. These areas tend to be poor in nutrients,
however the coral gets its nutrients from the algae
Importance of coral reefs
 Coral are very important in controlling how much carbon
dioxide is in the ocean water. Without coral, the amount of
carbon dioxide in the water would rise dramatically and
that would affect all living things on Earth.
 In addition, coral reefs are very important because they
protect coasts from strong currents and waves by slowing
down the water before it gets to the shore. That is why they
are called barrier reefs. They provide a barrier between the
ocean and the shore.
Importance of coral reefs
 Coral Reefs are the “Rainforests” of the ocean. Reefs
are ecologically important ecosystems and have a high
biodiversity that serves as a storage bank of rich
genetic resources
Estuaries
 This biome is unique because it involves both
freshwater and salt water. In this area streams or rivers
connect to the ocean. Species that live in this biome
have to be able to survive in both types of water
Estuaries
 The sheltered waters of estuaries are home to countless
plants and animals that like to live in water that is part
fresh and part salty. Examples include horseshoe crabs,
ospreys, manatees, mangroves, and sea grasses.
 Hundreds of fish and shellfish, such as scallops, shrimp,
and salmon, live in estuaries at some point in their life.
Estuaries protect water quality by filtering out dirt and
pollution.
 In addition, estuaries and the land surrounding them are
places where people live, sail, fish, swim, and bird watch.
As a result, estuaries are often the centers of our coastal
communities
Fresh Water Biomes
 Lakes, streams, wetlands
 Lakes- mass of water surrounded by land and fed by
sources of water such as rivers, stream, and
precipitation
Notes
 Biome : Large ecosystem with dominant life forms
 Marine biomes make up the largest percentage of aquatic
biomes on Earth (medium/high levels of salt)
 Marine biomes include oceans, coral reefs and estuaries
 Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by
ocean
Notes
 The world ocean is seen to be divided into five sub oceans:
Pacific ocean, Atlantic ocean, Indian ocean, Arctic ocean
and Southern ocean
 Ocean biomes are divided into four zones: intertidal,
pelagic, benthic and abyssal
 Intertidal: Where ocean meets shore
 Pelagic: Mixing of cold and warm ocean currents
 Benthic: Bottom of the ocean floor (cold temp, dark)
 Abyssal: Deepest zone and includes mid-ocean ridges
Notes
 Dramatic forms of weather occurs over the oceans(ex: tropical
cyclones )
 Ocean currents greatly affect the Earth's climate by transferring warm
or cold air and precipitation to coastal regions, where they may be
carried inland by winds.
 The Antarctic Circumpolar Current encircles that continent,
influencing the area's climate and connecting currents in several
oceans.
 Around half of all carbon dioxide produced by humans since the
industrial revolution has dissolved into the world's oceans
Notes
 Coral reefs are usually found in shallow, warm waters
 Coral are very important in controlling how much carbon
dioxide is in the ocean water.
 Coral reefs protect coasts from strong currents and waves
by slowing down the water before it gets to the shore
 Coral reefs have a high biodiversity that serves as a storage
bank of rich genetic resources
 Estuaries involve both freshwater and salt water. They
protect water quality by filtering out dirt and pollution and
are often the centers of coastal communities