Hydrothermal Vent Communities The Deep Sea "Over 60% of our planet is covered by water more than a mile deep. The deep sea is the largest habitat on earth and is largely unexplored. More people have traveled into space than have traveled to the deep ocean realm...." Hydrothermal Vent Communities Deep Sea Adaptations In your journal: Write down three examples of physical adaptations and how they help the organism survive in its environment.

Categories of Ocean Life Goal: To discuss examples of different types of marine organisms and the adaptations to their environments. Tonight’s homework: none Warm-up: Please take out your “Exploring the Oceans” online activity. Then, in your science journal: Define plankton, nekton, and benthos. Give a few examples for each. What are the two basic types of plankton?

Life in the Ocean 3 1) All ocean life fits into ____ categories: Benthos 2) __________  organisms that live on or in the ocean floor 3) __________  plant-like and animal-like microscopic life 4) __________  fish, dolphins, and sea lions __________  free-swimming organisms __________  crabs, worms, and clams __________  organisms that drift freely near the ocean surface Plankton Nekton Nekton Benthos Plankton

(plant-like organisms; capable of photosynthesis) Plankton Zooplankton (animals) 2 types Phytoplankton (plant-like organisms; capable of photosynthesis)

Nekton

Benthos

Whale Fall 3 min.

Biological Zones of the Ocean Intertidal Zone PELAGIC ENVIRONMENT Neritic Zone Oceanic Zone B E N T H I C E N V I R O N M E N T

Ocean Environments Intertidal Benthic Pelagic 1) ___________  right at the shoreline Intertidal 2) _________  along the ocean floor (can be shallow or deep) Benthic _________  water environment (but not along the bottom) Pelagic Neritic __________  shallow region along the coast (on the continental shelf) Oceanic __________  the rest of the open ocean (out at sea)

Neritic or Oceanic Zone? 13) __________  covers the entire sea floor except for the shelf 14) __________  covers the continental shelf 15) __________  is warm and shallow 16) __________  is home to strange animals like the angler fish 17) __________  has cold water under great pressure in deep areas 18) __________  receives an abundance of sunlight Neritic Neritic Oceanic Oceanic Neritic

Biodiversity in the Ocean Where in the ocean will you find the greatest diversity of life? Neritic Zone Oceanic Zone On the continental shelf Sunlight reaches the benthic organisms on the bottom. This is especially important for…

Coral Reefs

Life in the Neritic Zone Fish and other aquatic organisms like to have something to hang out around, where there is an abundance of nutrients. This is why coastal areas are so densely packed with ocean life.

Life in the Deep Ocean Since the oceanic zone is so enormous, there is more total life here than in the neritic zone, but it is sparse by comparison and tends to cluster around geologic features such as seamounts, where nutrients are rich.

Life in the Deep Ocean What do these deep organisms rely on for their food? Where else does deep sea life tend to cluster?

Hydrothermal Vents

The Oceanic Zone Out in the open ocean, there aren’t as many nutrients in the water, so much of the life here consists of tiny plankton and the jellyfish that feed on them…

…and the large predators that prey on the jellyfish! Jellyfish Predators …and the large predators that prey on the jellyfish! Mola mola

Mola Mola (aka Ocean Sunfish) Basking on its side

Mola Mola (aka Ocean Sunfish)

Ocean Zones

Giant Squid

Fangtooth

Gulper Eel

Benthocodon Jellyfish

Dumbo Octopus Size: up to 1.5 meters Depth: 300 – 5,000 m

Threadfin Snailfish Size: 15 cm Depth: 2,000 – 3,000 m

Ping-Pong Tree Sponge Size: 50 cm Depth: 2,600 – 3,000 m

Sperm Whale Length: 20 meters (65 ft) Depth: from the surface down to 10,000 feet!

Giant Isopod Size: 35 cm (over a foot long) Depth: 200 – 2,000 m This organism is like a giant underwater insect. Notice the eyes, and pale coloration

Deep Sea Anglerfish What Zone do you think this fish lives in? Hint…this fish lives at a depth of 3,000 ft

Unidentified species

Japanese Giant Spider Crab Size: up to 4 m (13 feet across including legs!) Depth: 300 – 400 m

Click here for more weird ocean creatures. Leafy Sea Dragon Where would you expect this organism to live? Click here for more weird ocean creatures.

Strange Deep Sea Life 11 min.

Deep Sea Adaptations Warm-up: Discuss at your table: Goal: To discuss examples of different types of marine organisms and the adaptations to their environments. Tonight’s homework: Complete online QUIA quiz tonight! (See Mr. Collins’ SharePoint site) Warm-up: Discuss at your table: Try to come up with some examples of adaptations (physical traits) you can think of that help certain species survive in the deep parts of the ocean.

ALVIN Take a moment to read p. 50 1 min.

active continental margin Diagram A physical features active continental margin deep-ocean basin continent continental slope abyssal plain oceanic crust continental crust trench

passive continental margin Diagram B physical features passive continental margin deep-ocean basin continent continental shelf continental slope continental rise continental crust abyssal plain oceanic crust

Diagram C biological zones pelagic environment intertidal zone neritic zone oceanic zone benthic environment

Camouflage 4 min.

Bioluminescence 4 min.

The Colossal Squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni

Marine Life in Antarctic Circle

The Colossal Squid

C’mon, who wants to mate with me? Anglerfish in Love C’mon, who wants to mate with me?

The Strange Love Life of the Anglerfish 4 min.