The Earth’s Ecosystems Marine Ecosystems

Marine = salt water Marine = salt water Hold 97% of Earth’s water supply Hold 97% of Earth’s water supply Cover ¾ of the Earth’s surface Cover ¾ of the Earth’s surface Abiotic factors Abiotic factors  Temperature  Amount of sunlight  Distance to land  Depth of water

Sunny Waters Sunlight penetrates to about 200 meters Sunlight penetrates to about 200 meters Important Biotic Factors Important Biotic Factors  Phytoplankton- microscopic producers that float on or near surface of water  Zooplankton- microscopic consumer that feeds on phytoplankton  At the base of all marine food chains

Zones of the Ocean Intertidal- where ocean meets land Intertidal- where ocean meets land  Waves and tides affect this zone  Above water part of the day  Mud flats, rocky shores, and sandy beaches are found here Neritic- above the continental shelf Neritic- above the continental shelf  Less than 200m deep  Lots of sunlight  Diverse and colorful coral reefs can exist here

Zones Continued Oceanic- deep water of the open ocean Oceanic- deep water of the open ocean  Not much sunlight Benthic- the sea floor Benthic- the sea floor  Chemosynthetic- animals that use chemicals from thermal vents to make food

Types of marine environments Coral reefs- symbiosis of algae and coral Coral reefs- symbiosis of algae and coral Sargasso Sea- middle of Atlantic ocean where seaweed creates floating rafts Sargasso Sea- middle of Atlantic ocean where seaweed creates floating rafts Polar Ice- in the Arctic and Antarctic, rich in nutrients and plankton Polar Ice- in the Arctic and Antarctic, rich in nutrients and plankton Estuary- where freshwater and ocean mix Estuary- where freshwater and ocean mix Intertidal area- mudflats, sandy beaches, rocky shores Intertidal area- mudflats, sandy beaches, rocky shores

Types of Marine environments: Coral Reef Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients.calcium carbonate corals

Sargasso Sea The ocean water in the Sargasso Sea is distinctive for its deep blue color and exceptional clarity, with underwater visibility of up to 200 feet (61 m).

Polar Ice One of the most unique biomes is found in the Arctic Ocean and the water around Antarctica. The Polar Ice biome is a marine biome that is rich in nutrients from the land around them, and contain ice. This makes the perfect environment for plankton, and plankton fuel the surrounding ecosystem.

Marine Estuary Estuaries and the lands surrounding them are places of transition from land to sea, and from fresh to salt water. Although influenced by the tides, estuaries are protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds, and storms by the reefs, barrier islands, or fingers of land, mud, or sand that define an estuary's seaward boundary.

Intertidal Area The intertidal zone, also known as the littoral zone, in marine aquatic environments is the area of the foreshore and seabed that is exposed to the air at low tide and submerged at high tide, this means the area between tide marks.

Homework Read section 2 and complete Page 59 questions in full sentences. Read section 2 and complete Page 59 questions in full sentences.