Download Marine Ecosystems

Marine Ecosystems
Estuaries
 Estuaries are formed where ocean water mixes with
fresh water
 These calm waters contain an abundance of Dissolved
Oxygen, nutrients, and minerals supplied by the river
water.
 Because of this, lots of fish love to live there
Salt Marsh-Part of an estuary
 Provide a habitat for fish
Ocean Ecosystems
 There are 4 distinct life zones in the ocean in
relationship to the beach.
 Each life zone differs in physical conditions.
Life Zones
Open Ocean-
Intertidal Zone
 This is the area near the beach between high and low
tide.
 Animals living in this area are adapted to living both
underwater and exposed to air.
Intertidal Zone Organisms-write
down a few examples
Play Intertidal Zone Video
 ..\..\Videos\The Intertidal zone
[www.keepvid.com].mp4
Neritic Zone
 slopes down from the edge of the shoreline toward the
ocean floor.
 a few meters to 200 meters.
 temperature and salinity remaining fairly constant in
this zone
 MOST OF THE OCEAN LIFE IS FOUND HERE!
Coral Reef
 Corals are tiny organisms that live attached to
each other in large groups called colonies
 As they die, their skeletons are left behind to
create reefs.
 Become habitats for many fish
Coral Reef
Real Nemo in Coral Reef Video
 ..\..\Videos\Finding Nemo hiding in the live coral
[www.keepvid.com].mp4
Oceanic Zone
 open waters of the ocean.
 from the ocean’s surface to its deepest waters,
 sunlight can only penetrates a few hundred meters
 Due to this, all producers (phytoplankton), live in this
zone.
 Larger animals, such as whales and dolphins, live in
this zone.
Open Ocean Zone (Oceanic)
Oceanic Zone
Abyssal Zone
 The floor of the deep ocean is called the abyss.
 High pressure, low temperature, and the absence of
light
 Animals that live in this zone: worms, bacteria, sea
urchins, etc.
 These organisms survive by eating organic material ,
like dead animals, that fall from the surface
Strangest fish on the planet live
near the bottom-BUT NO FISH ON
THE BOTTOM
Play Abyss Video
 ..\..\Videos\abyss fish.mp4
Photic Zone vs Benthic Zone
 Photic zone- sun light reaches ~200 meters
Ocean Pollution - What is the
most common solid waste in
oceans?
Plastic
Never biodegrades
Animals mistake it for food
Very buoyant and floats along
with the ocean currents
Bird carcass that died from eating
plastic in ocean.
Sea of plastic
Hidden Pollution
 Chemicals such as lead and mercury are widespread in
the oceans
 Most dangerous chemicals are clear
 Some pregnant women who are highly susceptible to
chemicals are advised not to eat fish or tuna. WHY?
Dead Zones
 Zones of the oceans where nothing survives because
the currents have deposited these chemicals there
Where does most of the pollution
enter the ocean?
 Run-off from land
 Urban run-off into rivers bring the pollution to the
oceans and then travel in the ocean currents.
What is the largest polluter of the
oceans?
Discussion Questions
 Where are coral reefs and most of the ocean life
located?
a. in the oceanic zone
b. in estuaries.
c. in the intertidal zone
d. in the neritic zone
 Which of the following organisms could not live on
the bottom of ocean floor of the oceanic zone?
 A. fish
B. Sea urchins
C. Bacteria
D. worms
 How do nutrients move in the ocean as a result of
upwelling?
 A. from deep, colder areas to warm, shallow areas
 B. from warm, shallow areas to deep, colder areas.
 C. from the neritic zone to the intertidal zone
 D. from the ocean floor into estuaries