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

Groups of ocean life Benthos Plankton Nekton

Benthos: Group of ocean life that lives on the bottom of the ocean floor Sponge Worms Clams and mussels

Plankton: Group of organisms that move with currents and live at the surface of the ocean. Krill-shrimp like fish at the bottom of the food chain Phytoplankton

Plankton Group Zooplankton Microscopic animals

Nekton: organisms that swim independently, live within a few hundred feet of the ocean surface

In class assignment 1. Create a model of an estuary. 2. Describe their location and why they are important. 3. Create a model of the three groups of organisms. 4. Give examples of each group as well as where they are located. When you are done, work on your textbook homework, your art project, or your vocabulary!

Ocean Life There are 3 main groups of ocean life. They are classified according to where they live. Group Definition Examples Benthos Plants/animals living near/on/in ocean bottom Kelp, sponges, worms, algae, clams, etc Plankton Small/microscopic organisms that move w/currents Krill, some mollusks, protozoa, eggs of larger species, etc Nekton Swimming animals that move independently Fish, whales, seals, squid, eels, etc

Ocean Organisms

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

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

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

Coral Reef locations

Remote Sensing-Coral Reefs

Real Nemo in Coral Reef Video

Play Nertic Zone Video

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.

Oceanic Zone

Oceanic Zone

The Abyss 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

Assignment: Use the model on your desk to create a map of the different oceanic zones

Ocean Pollution Most visible to humans near the shoreline What are 3 examples of pollution you have seen near the shoreline when at the beach?

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

Video of sea turtle eating 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 Ocean zones Zones of the oceans where nothing survives because the currents have deposited these chemicals there

Dead Zones Zones of the oceans where nothing survives because the currents have deposited these chemicals there

Play Dead Zone Videos

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

HW: Paragraph about Oceanic Pollution