Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity Section 2 Large Marine Ecosystems of the world

Review Binomial nomenclature created by Linneaus in the mid-1700s Each species has a two part name 1st – generic name (genus) 2nd – specific name (species)

Terms to Know! Term Definition Example Habitat Place where organisms live Ecological Niche The role of an organism within an ecosystem Species A group of similar organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring Population Organisms of the same species, living in the same area Community All the different species living in a habitat at the same time Ecosystem Living organisms and the chemical and physical factors which influence them With a partner, take 2-3 minutes and come up with marine examples of the terms listed above!

The ecosystem is affected by… Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM

The ecosystem is affected by… Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM

What identifies an ecosystem: Biotic Abiotic Living components of an ecosystem Is organic (CHO) and can produce high energy Nonliving components of an ecosystem Non organic, can not get energy from it Greek meanings: Bio = living tic = of or pertaining to A = not; without List 5 examples of each!

Marine Ecosystem Example Rocky Shore – organisms living here, linked together by flows of energy forming a food web, and their environment Animals must be able to adapt to changing tides

Habitat Example Hydrothermal vent – provides habitat for species of tube worms

Population Example Ghost crabs (Ocypode saratan) living in the sandy shores Mollusc community on a rocky shore (all different species of molluscs)

Species Examples Skipjack tuna (Katsuwomus pelamis) Red mangrove trees (Rhizophora mangle)

Ecological Niche Examples Ecological niche of great white shark = top predator Organisms which occupy similar niches will tend to compete with each other for Resources Food Space in their habitat

Trophic Levels “feeding levels” in a food chain or a food web Producers 1st trophic level Primary consumers2nd trophic level Secondary consumers 3rd trophic level

More Terms… Term Definition Producer Organisms which synthesize organic substances from simple organic compounds using light from the Sun Consumer An organism that obtains its energy by feeding on other organisms Primary Consumer Feed on plant material (AKA Herbivore) Secondary Consumer Feed on herbivores ((AKA Carnivore) Predator An animal that catches, kills, and eats another animal Practice worksheet Have them create food chain to practice identifying terms (feeding frenzy) Energy flow through an ecosystem diagram with questions (food web) Quiz on marine food web

Predator-Prey Relationship Factors which affect # of predators in an ecosystem Availability of food As the # of prey increases the # of predators increases As the # of prey decrease the # of predators decrease What would a graph of this relationship look like?

Predator-Prey Graph Show practice example to them and discuss it-Pollock/arrowhead/cod

Relationships between organisms

Symbiosis The relationship between 2 different organisms(species), where at least one benefits from the relationship Examples Corals and zooxanthellae Cleaner fish and grouper Chemosynthetic bacteria and tubeworms

Mutualism Relationship between two species (different organisms) where both organisms benefit Corals zooxanthellae Benefit? Benefit?

Parasitism Relationship between two different organisms where 1 organisms benefits at the expense of the other (the host) Parasites obtain nutrients from host Ectoparasites Live on OUTSIDE of the host Example: Fish lice Endoparasites Live INSIDE host (digestive system, attached to gills, muscle tissue) Example: nematodes (roundworms) living in fish Good buddies symbiosis activity to review concept-have them in teams of two and divide the cards into three piles based on the type of symbiosis Show them the practice question and go over it.

What is a Shoal? Large numbers of fish of the SAME species and approximately the SAME size. Referred to as a ‘school’ when the group of fish is swimming together in a coordinated way. Video on it is next

Benefits of Shoaling Hydrodynamic efficiency Groups of fish save energy when swimming together

Benefits of Shoaling Predator avoidance: a) Confusion effect: It is difficult for predators to pick out individual prey from groups b) Many eyes effect as size of group increases, the task of scanning for predators can be spread out

Benefits of Shoaling Foraging Advantages : Time taken to find food is decreased Reproductive Advantages: Provides increased access to potential mates

Types of shoalers Fish can be obligate or facultative shoalers: Obligate – spends all their time shoaling or schooling and may become agitated when separated from the group (examples: tuna, herring, anchovy) Facultative – shoal only some of the time, perhaps only for reproductive purposes (examples: Atlantic cod) For homework give out the reading assignment why do fish shoal?

MARINE BIODIVERSITY FOR A LONG TIME THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN THE WORLD’S OCEANS WAS UNCLEAR.

IT MAKES HABITATS MORE RESILIENT TO CHANGES PRESENT TIME IS CLEAR HOW IT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING THE FUNCTIONALITY /PRODUCTIVITY OF ECOSYSTEMS IT MAKES HABITATS MORE RESILIENT TO CHANGES .

Biodiversity Takes into account: Examples: # of different species present Range of habitats and ecosystems Examples: CORAL REEFS High biodiversity w/ many species present SANDY SHORE Low biodiversity w/ few species present

Quadrat A square used in ecology and geography to isolate a sample Used to investigate the diversity of organisms in a suitable habitat (example: rocky shore or sandy shore)

Extreme & Unstable Environments Tend to have LOW biodiversity! Example 1: Sand-easily dries out and easily eroded by wind and water currents Example 2: hydrothermal vents-high pressure, high temperature, few organisms adapted to these conditions

Stable & Favorable Environments Tend to have HIGH biodiversity! Example: Coral Reefs

Specialized Niche Generalized Niche Narrow range of food requirements Live in specific habitat Example: Butterfly fish Territorial Live closely w/corals and anenomes Exploit a wider range of food sources Live in wider range of habitats, many roles Ex: Tuna Migratory Feed on many different species of fish

Why do habitats with high biodiversity tend to contain narrow ecological niches? Each species has its OWN niche within the ecosystem What would happen if the niches overlapped? INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION and one species will die out! Narrow niches reduce overlap and therefore reduce competition Give them practice question and go over it-shoaling and ecological niches

What is Succession? The gradual process of change that occurs in community structure over a period of time Example

Succession As plant communities change the animal communities change.

Succession at Hydrothermal Vents One of the first animal species to inhabit the area around a hydrothermal vent is the tube worm Tevnia. Tevnia is replaced by the larger and faster growing tube worm Riftia. Riftia tubeworms can grow up to two meters long. This adult tubeworm that has been removed from its white tube.

Riftia Tevnia Tevnia are usually white, but this clump of worms is stained brown from iron in the vent fluids. The largest worm in this clump (with more white color) is a different species - a Riftia tubeworm.

Chemosynthesis Symbiotic bacteria convert H2S into organic material: H2S + CO2 + O2 + H20  CH2O + H2SO4 Hydrogen sulfide is the primary energy source for hot vents and cold seeps

What is a Whale Fall? When a whale dies, the carcass sinks to the sea floor…this is known as a “whale fall” The following videos shows the gradual change in the community structure over time