Download Life in the Oceans

Life in the Oceans
Tonja Curtz
2011.
Biodiversity

What is Biodiversity?
 Many different life forms within an
ecosystem, biome and or the planet
 It is measured by its healthiness
 It is a habitat for countless species
 There are tropical to polar regions
Biodiversity hotspots
 These are sites that are very popular with
filmmakers for the variety of life they
exhibit.
 They are more specifically called, ‘species
diversity hotspots’.
 These spots help conservationists identify
areas that need protection.
 However, all areas need protection for
any number of species that live there.
 Example: Coral Reefs
Cycles of life and energy
 All life depends on organisms that
harness energy from either
chemicals or the sun to produce
food.
 These are called ‘primary producers’
 First link to the food chain
Producers
 Plankton:
 There are two types:
1) Zooplankton
2) Phytoplankton
http://web.vims.edu/bio/zooplankton/?svr=www,
http://wyrdscience.wordpress.com/tag/phytoplan
kton/
Date accessed; April 12th, 2011
Date accessed; April 12th, 2011
Zooplankton
 Animal-like single celled creatures
 Plankton is classified by size, and life
cycle
 Single celled for life: holoplankton
 Single celled for larvae: meroplankton
 Smallest are protozoans
 Larvae (egg size) are microplankton
 Larger are macroplankton
 Largest (jelly fish) are megaplankton
Phytoplankton
 Single celled algae
 Diatoms: yellow-green with intricate shell
 Elongated: pleurosigma
 Wheel shaped: coscinodiscus
 Dinoflagellates: have two flagella for moving
 Chaetocerus: have setae for joining other chaetocera
to form chains or sheets of colonies
 These are the major producers of the ocean
 They perform photosynthesis to convert the sun’s
energy to simple sugars
Algae
 Present along the coastlines/ in
shore regions
 Not found in open ocean
 Multicellular Producer: base
organism on food chain.
 Types: green/red/brown
Consumers
• Near the top of the food chain.
• 3 different levels:
• Primary Consumer: herbivorous
(herbivore)
• Secondary Consumer: carnivorous
(carnivore)
• Tertiary Consumer: top level
carnivore
Types of Consumers
 Filter feeders: feed on plankton
 Herbivores: feed on plankton/ seaweed/ grasses
 Carnivores: feed on filter feeders/ herbivores/
other carnivores
 As a rule organisms only eat what they can fit into their
mouth.
 Larger eat the smaller.
 Parasites: feed on other organisms without the
intent to do harm
 Symbiotic: two connected organisms receive
nourishment/ protection from each other.
Invertebrates
 Organisms without vertebrae
 Types:
 Porifera: sponges
 Cnidarians: jelly fish, corals, sea
anemones
 Flat worms, round worms, segmented
worms, etc.
 Molluscs: shell fish, octopi, squid
 Crustaceans: lobster, crab
 Echinoderms: starfish, sea urchin
Vertebrates
 Organisms with vertebrae
 Types:
 Agnatha: lamprey eels
 Chondrichthyes: sharks, rays
 Osteichthyes: bony fishes
 Reptilia: turtles, snakes, crocodiles
 Aves: birds
 Mamalia: dolphins, whales