Transcript What are some characteristics of marine ecosystems

“What are some characteristics of
marine ecosystems or biomes?”
http://www.edc.uri.edu/lme/clickable-map.htm
Marine Ecosystems
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Cover ¾ the Earth’s surface
Contain 97% of Earth’s water (Salt Water)
Have the largest animals
Abiotic factors shape the biomes Ex. Temp.
Intertidal Zone
• Area where ocean meets land.
• Has a tide
Ex. Beach, rocky shores, mud flats
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/edgeofsea/tidepool.html
http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/rocky/tidezones.html
Neritic Zone
• Area at the edge of the
continental shelf. (200 m)
•Lots of sun so lots of life
(coral)
•Phytoplantkon-micro.
Organisms that make their
own food.
•Zooplantkton- feed on
phytoplankton.
http://people.whitman.edu/~yancey/midwater.html
Oceanic Zone
• Deep water
Ex. Whales, squid, bony fish
• Little or no light
• Most organisms get
energy by consuming
organic material that
falls from the surface.
Benthic Zone
• Deep sea floor
• Get food by filtering or
by heat
• Ex. Tube worms,
Bacteria, sea urchins
Examples of
Marine Ecosystems
Sargasso
Sea
Intertidal
Areas
Coral
Reef
Marine Eco.
Examples
Estuaries
Polar Ice
Coral Reefs
•Live in mutualism relationship with single-celled
algae (photosynthesis provides food).
The Sargasso Sea
• Is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
• Sargasso is a type of floating raft algae
Polar Ice
• In the Artic Ocean and around Antarctica
• Has nutrients from landmasses to feed plankton
which supports the ecosystem.
Estuaries
• Area where fresh water flows into the ocean from
streams and rivers.
• The salt levels vary.
Intertidal Areas
• Organisms are able to “cement” themselves to
rock.
Ex. Worms, clams, crabs, star fish, plankton
So, what energy factor does each
of the marine biomes have
common?