Ecology of a Rocky Shore Community

Zones of Life along a Rocky Shore Why are some animals and plants located in special zones and not all over? Why are some animals and plants located in special zones and not all over?

Adaptations for life on a high energy rocky shoreline High energy waves High energy waves Low tide exposure Low tide exposure

Animals on a typical New England rocky shore

Asian Shore Crab Asian Shore Crab Periwinkle snails Periwinkle snails Blue Mussels Blue Mussels Purple Sea Urchin Purple Sea Urchin Rock Barnacles Rock Barnacles Common Sea Star Common Sea Star

Algae on a typical New England rocky shore Fucus Fucus Knotted Wrack Knotted Wrack Ulva Ulva Chondrus Chondrus Kelp Kelp

Adaptations to life on a rocky shore line Adapting to Wave Shock Barnacles Barnacles Cements shell to rock Cements shell to rock Snails Snails Use a suction cup like foot Use a suction cup like foot

Adaptations to Wave Shock Sea Stars and Urchins Sea Stars and Urchins Tube feet with suction cup ends Tube feet with suction cup ends

Adaptations to Wave Shock Blue Mussels Blue Mussels Byssel Threads ( strong cables) Byssel Threads ( strong cables)

Adaptations to Wave Shock Crabs and Lobsters Crabs and Lobsters Wedge into rock spaces Wedge into rock spaces Hide under rocks Hide under rocks

Adaptations to Wave Shock Sea Weeds (macroalgae) Sea Weeds (macroalgae) Hold fasts attach to rocks Hold fasts attach to rocks

Rocky shore animal feeding adaptations Barnacles Barnacles Filter food with feathery legs (filter feeder) Filter food with feathery legs (filter feeder) Snails Snails Scrape food with a radula - tongue with teeth (grazers and carnivores) Scrape food with a radula - tongue with teeth (grazers and carnivores) Sea stars Sea stars Use tube feet and stomach Use tube feet and stomach

Reproduction adaptations

Barnacles are hermaphrodites Barnacles are hermaphrodites Each barnacle has both male and female reproductive organs Each barnacle has both male and female reproductive organs Marine snails mate and deposit egg cases Marine snails mate and deposit egg cases Sea stars and Urchins broad cast eggs and sperm into the water Sea stars and Urchins broad cast eggs and sperm into the water Marine Arthropods like crabs and lobsters mate. Female attracts male using pheromones. Marine Arthropods like crabs and lobsters mate. Female attracts male using pheromones. After the female molts and mates with the male, eggs will later be deposited on underside of her abdomen and carried until they hatch. After the female molts and mates with the male, eggs will later be deposited on underside of her abdomen and carried until they hatch.

Lobster with eggs Lobster with eggs Green crab with eggs Green crab with eggs

Ecology Ecology – the study of the relationships between living organisms and with their environment. Ecology – the study of the relationships between living organisms and with their environment. The marine environment for all marine life is composed of the nonliving environment, or abiotic factors The marine environment for all marine life is composed of the nonliving environment, or abiotic factors and the living organisms, or biotic factors and the living organisms, or biotic factors

What are the abiotic factors that these tide pool organisms deal with every day? How about organisms in this deep sea vent community? How about organisms in this deep sea vent community?

What are the abiotic factors here?

The biotic factors are the organisms and how they interact with each other. Not a good day for the Sea Lion Not a good day for the Sea Lion

Biotic factors in the marine environment

Plankton Phytoplankton Zooplankton Phytoplankton Zooplankton

Levels of Organization There are four distinct levels of organization in the biotic sector of the environment: There are four distinct levels of organization in the biotic sector of the environment: The individual organism The individual organism The population of that species The population of that species The community of organisms that species exists within The community of organisms that species exists within The ecosystem the community exists in along with the abiotic factors affecting those organisms The ecosystem the community exists in along with the abiotic factors affecting those organisms

The individual organism (species) Littorina littorea – Littorina littorea – the Periwinkle Snail How is this animal adapted to its environment?

The population of Periwinkle Snails How do these snails interact with each other? How do these snails interact with each other? Competition? Competition? For what? For what?

The community of orgnanisms that the Periwinkle snails live in How do these organism interact with each other? How do these organism interact with each other?

A Rocky Shoreline Ecosystem

The Flow of Energy and the Recycling of Nutrients All the living organisms in this rocky shoreline community require energy for survival. All the living organisms in this rocky shoreline community require energy for survival. How is this energy acquired and how much is passed on? How is this energy acquired and how much is passed on? How do these organism obtain atoms and molecules for growth and repair? How do these organism obtain atoms and molecules for growth and repair? and how are these nutrients passed on? and how are these nutrients passed on?