8-2 Why Are Marine Aquatic Systems Important? Concept 8-2 Saltwater ecosystems are irreplaceable reservoirs of biodiversity and provide major ecological and economic services.

Oceans Provide Vital Ecological and Economic Resources Marine coastal ecosystem goods and services are estimated to be worth over ___________________ per year… Similar to the U.S. annual gross domestic product $ 12 trillion

Natural Capital Marine Ecosystems Ecological Services Economic Services Climate moderation Food CO 2 absorption Animal and pet feed Nutrient cycling Pharmaceuticals Waste treatment Harbors and transportation routes Reduced storm impact (mangroves, barrier islands, coastal wetlands) Coastal habitats for humans Figure 8.5: Marine systems provide a number of important ecological and economic services (Concept 8-2). Questions: Which two ecological services and which two economic services do you think are the most important? Why? Recreation Habitats and nursery areas Employment Oil and natural gas Genetic resources and biodiversity Minerals Building materials Scientific information Fig. 8-5, p. 172

Oceans Provide Vital Ecological and Economic Resources Reservoirs of diversity in three major life zones ____________________ Warm, nutrient rich, shallow Extend from the shore to edge of the ______________ _____________ Usually high NPP from ample sunlight and nutrients Coastal Zone continental shelf Open Sea Ocean bottom

Water temperature (°C) High tide Coastal Zone Open Sea Low tide Depth in meters Sea level Photosynthesis 50 Euphotic Zone Estuarine Zone 100 Continental shelf 200 500 Bathyal Zone Twilight 1,000 1,500 Water temperature drops rapidly between the euphotic zone and the abyssal zone in an area called the thermocline . Abyssal Zone 2,000 3,000 Figure 8.6: This diagram illustrates the major life zones and vertical zones (not drawn to scale) in an ocean. Actual depths of zones may vary. Available light determines the euphotic, bathyal, and abyssal zones. Temperature zones also vary with depth, shown here by the red line. Question: How is an ocean like a rain forest? (Hint: see Figure 7-15, p. 162.) Darkness 4,000 5,000 10,000 5 10 15 20 25 30 Water temperature (°C) Fig. 8-6, p. 173

Ocean Life Zones Based on the previous diagram, how are oceans similar to rainforests? Vertical layering Specialized niches

Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands Are Highly Productive (1) Estuaries are where _____________ meet the _________ Seawater mixes with freshwater _______________ and ________________ from streams, rivers, and land run-off also collect here… Partially enclosed bodies of water rivers sea Nutrients pollutants

View of an Estuary from Space Figure 8.7: This satellite photo shows a view of an estuary taken from space. A sediment plume (turbidity caused by runoff) forms at the mouth of Madagascar’s Betsiboka River as it flows through the estuary and into the Mozambique Channel. Because of its topography, heavy rainfall, and the clearing of its forests for agriculture, Madagascar is the world’s most eroded country. Fig. 8-7, p. 173

Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands Are Highly Productive (2) Coastal wetlands are coastal _________ areas covered with water all or part of the year River mouths, Inlets, Bays, Sounds Salt marshes, Mangrove forests, Sea grass beds Estuaries and coastal wetlands have extremely high net primary productivity (______) due to… High nutrient ___________ Rapid nutrient ___________________ (tides) Shallow waters that receive plenty of _____________ land NPP input circulation sunlight

C Coastal Marsh Ecosystem Herring gulls Peregrine falcon Cordgrass Snowy egret Short-billed dowitcher Marsh periwinkle Phytoplankton Smelt Figure 8.8: This diagram shows some of the components and interactions in a coastal marsh ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals used by plants. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale. The photo above shows a coastal marsh in Peru. Zooplankton and small crustaceans Soft-shelled clam Clamworm Bacteria Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All consumers and producers to decomposers

Estuaries and Coastal Wetlands Are Highly Productive (3) Sea Grass Beds Grow ________________in shallow areas Support a ________________ of marine species Stabilize shorelines Reduce wave impact Mangrove forests Found along tropical and subtropical coastlines 69 different tree species that grow in _____________ Absorb wave impact and reduce coastal ___________ Historically have sustainably supplied ____________ and ________________ to coastal communities underwater variety saltwater erosion timber fuelwood

See Grass Bed Organisms Figure 8.9: Sea grass beds support a variety of marine species. Since 1980, about 29% of the world’s sea grass beds have been lost to pollution and other disturbances. Fig. 8-9, p. 174

Mangrove Forest in Australia Figure 8.10: This mangrove forest is in Daintree National Park in Queensland, Australia. The tangled roots and dense vegetation in these coastal forests act like shock absorbers to reduce damage from storms and tsunamis. They also provide highly complex habitat for a diversity of invertebrates and fishes. Fig. 8-10, p. 175

Rocky and Sandy Shores Host Different Types of Organisms Intertidal zone – area of shoreline between the _______ and _______ tides ___________ shores ___________ shores: barrier beaches Organism adaptations are needed to… prevent being ___________ away deal with both ______ and ______ conditions survive changing _____________ levels Organisms may _________ on, _______ in, or hide in __________ low high rocky sandy washed wet dry salinity hold dig shells

Rocky Shore Beach Barrier Beach Sea star Hermit crab Shore crab High tide Periwinkle Sea urchin Anemone Mussel Low tide Sculpin Barnacles Kelp Sea lettuce Monterey flatworm Nudibranch Beach flea Peanut worm Tiger beetle Barrier Beach Blue crab Clam Dwarf olive High tide Sandpiper Ghost shrimp Silversides Low tide Mole shrimp White sand macoma Sand dollar Moon snail Stepped Art Fig. 8-11, p. 176

Coral Reefs Are Amazing Centers of Biodiversity Marine _______________ of tropical rain forests cover a small amount of area but contain high levels of biodiversity Coral reefs provide habitats for _____________ of all marine species equivalent one-fourth

Green sea turtle Moray eel Gray reef shark Sea nettle Green sea turtle Blue tang Fairy basslet Parrot fish Brittle star Sergeant major Hard corals Algae Banded coral shrimp Phytoplankton Coney Symbiotic algae Figure 8.12: Natural capital. This diagram illustrates some of the components and interactions in a coral reef ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals used by plants. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale. Zooplankton Blackcap basslet Sponges Moray eel Bacteria Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 8-12, p. 177

The Open Sea and Ocean Floor Host a Variety of Species (1) Three vertical zones of the open sea….most of the ____________ of the ocean _________________ zone Brightly _______ upper zone Phytoplankton (photosynthesis) Nutrient levels typically ________...unless upwelling occurs Dissolved oxygen levels __________...not much decomposition volume Euphotic lit low high

The Open Sea and Ocean Floor Host a Variety of Species (2) 2. __________________ zone ____________ lit __________________ and smaller fishes __________________ zone Dark and cold _____________ levels of nutrients…dead organisms sink to the ocean floor (____________________) Little dissolved oxygen _____________ feeders and ______________ feeders Bathyal dimly zooplankton Abyssal high marine snow filter deposit

The Open Sea and Ocean Floor Host a Variety of Species (3) Net primary productivity (NPP) is ______ in the open ocean… But since oceans cover so much of our planet, it makes the largest ____________ contribution to NPP low overall

8-3 How Have Human Activities Affected Marine Ecosystems? Concept 8-3 Human activities threaten aquatic biodiversity and disrupt ecological and economic services provided by saltwater systems.

Human Activities Are Disrupting and Degrading Marine Systems Major threats to marine systems Coastal _____________________ ___________________ __________________ Use of fishing _____________________ Runoff of nonpoint source pollution Introduction of ____________________ species __________________ change from human activities development pollutants overfishing trawlers invasive climate

Natural Capital Degradation Major Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems and Coral Reefs Marine Ecosystems Coral Reefs Half of coastal wetlands lost to agriculture and urban development Ocean warming Figure 8.13: This diagram shows the major threats to marine ecosystems (left) and particularly coral reefs (right) (Core Case study) resulting from human activities (Concept 8-3). Questions: Which two of the threats to marine ecosystems do you think are the most serious? Why? Which two of the threats to coral reefs do you think are the most serious? Why? Rising ocean acidity Over one-fifth of mangrove forests lost to agriculture, development, and shrimp farms since 1980 Soil erosion Algae growth from fertilizer runoff Bleaching Beaches eroding because of coastal development and rising sea levels Rising sea levels Increased UV exposure Ocean bottom habitats degraded by dredging and trawler fishing Damage from anchors Damage from fishing and diving At least 20% of coral reefs severely damaged and 25–33% more threatened Fig. 8-13, p. 179

Chesapeake Bay – An Estuary in Trouble Figure 8.14: The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. However, the bay is severely degraded as a result of water pollution from point and nonpoint sources in six states and the District of Columbia, and from the atmospheric deposition of air pollutants. Fig. 8-14, p. 180

Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay—an Estuary in Trouble (1) Largest estuary in the US Increased water pollution due to human population _____________ 1940 to 2007…population went from ______ million to _______ million (still increasing) A large __________ __________ involving six states and the D.C. area feeds into Chesapeake Bay Very ______________, pollution is not flushed out efficiently growth 3.7 16.8 drainage basin shallow

Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay—an Estuary in Trouble (2) Phosphate and nitrate levels are too high… Sewage treatment plants Industrial plants Fertilizer and waste run off Sediment runoff _____________, a keystone species, greatly reduced Good at filtering and cleaning water Oysters 26

Case Study: The Chesapeake Bay—an Estuary in Trouble (2) ___________: Chesapeake Bay Program Integrated coastal management with local, state, federal governments and citizens’ groups Land use regulations to reduce ___________ Banned phosphate ________________ ________________ sewage treatment plants Monitoring industrial discharge 2008 update: 25 years and $6 billion Water quality “very poor” 1983 run off detergents Upgraded 27

Review Questions Correctly label the following ocean life zones Coastal Zone Open Sea A B Euphotic zone C Bathyal zone D Abyssal zone E 28

Review Questions What type of coastal ecosystem is shown here? What natural services does it provide? Mangrove forest Storm/erosion protection Timber/fuelwood Diverse habitat 29

Review Questions The Chesapeake Bay area has polluted water because prevention and clean up procedures cannot currently keep up with the area’s… Population growth 30