Marine Adaptations

Topics Exploration Summary Environmental Group Marine Pollution In Exploration Where Pollution Is Most Common Pollution Impacts To The Ecosystem Action Steps To Avoid Pollution Findings Help In Minimizing Pollution

Topics Continued Life In The Gulf of Mexico Top 10 Marine Animals Current & Future Coral Adaptation Coral Relationships Coral Tides &Currents Gulf of Mexico Geological Features

Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Habitats 12-Day Mission Exploration of deep sea creatures Various corals especially in areas used by oil industries Algae, crabs and brittle stars are widely present along with many light requiring plants.

Mission Statement Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “The enduring mission of the program is to encourage and enable others to act effectively in protecting and restoring the nation's wetlands and associated ecosystems, including shallow open waters and free-flowing streams” (EPA, 2012, para. 1).

Type of Marine Pollution Runoff/Overflow Pollution ▫ When it rains or snowmelts on land, the water flows towards the rivers and then sea, carrying and bringing pollutants  Fertilizers  Oils  Bacteria Oil Spills ▫ Caused by accidental leaks or explosions in drilling sites

Excess of Pollution Too much human activities in this area. Areas used for the petroleum industry should be protected properly in the Gulf of Mexico. Highly polluted are the areas in deep regions where mining is done too much and also in the shore areas.

What the Marine Pollution Have Impacts On The Surrounding Ecosystem? Runoff Pollution Bacteria and viruses Trash Pesticides and chemicals Oil Spills Toxic to marine animals Disturbs feeding, reproduction, development Affects all marine life, from birds to mollusks

Protection Against Runoff Overall community level ▫ Protecting strips ▫ Ponds preservation ▫ Developing wetlands ▫ Porous preventing materials ▫ Sediment fences ▫ Growing plants ▫ Signs on storm drains Individual level ▫ Growing plants in bare areas ▫ Appropriate dumping of harmful wastes ▫ Careful utilization of fertilizers and other chemicals on lawns ▫ Dumping of trash appropriately ▫ Organize neighborhood cleanups ▫ Reprocess and reuse of recyclable materials

Protection Against Oil Spills Different and substitutes of oil, power sources Use more resources to develop new technology Laws and Rules by government Prohibit offshore drilling

Minimizing Reoccurring Incidents New procedures and steps to stop pollution from reoccurring (i.e. constructed wetlands, recycling) Natural resources are needed to be discovered from the areas other than the ocean Developing a roadmap for alternatives to minimize water pollution.

Life in the Gulf of Mexico Mammals ▫Dolphins ▫Whales ▫Manatees Reptiles ▫Sea turtles ▫Alligators Fish ▫Sharks ▫Many others Invertebrates ▫Shellfish ▫Shrimp ▫Snails ▫Corals ▫Jellyfish ▫Worms Others ▫Marine algae ▫Plants

Top 10 Marine Animals Thunnus thynnus- North Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Sea Turtles –Caretta Caretta Sharks- Heptranshias perlo Marine Mammals Brown Pelican- Pelecanus occidentalis Oysters- Crassostrea virginica Shrimp- Penaeus spp. Menhaden Fish- Brevoortia patronus Beach Nesting and Migratory Shorebirds Migratory Songbirds

Adaptation of Coral Live In Scarce Nutrient Warm Water ▫ Live in shallow tropical waters ▫ Hosting symbiotic algae within tissue ▫ Require salt water to live Develops Hard Substrate For Attachment ▫ Develop hard skeletons ▫ Development of coral reefs Coral & Algae Symbiosis ▫ Hermatypic –mutualism relationship ▫ Algae provides food, coral provides nutrients

Coral Future Adaptation Adaptation To Climate Change ▫ Coral bleaching may occur due to rise in temperature ▫ Can possibly adapt the changing temperature ▫ May die Increased Ocean Acidification ▫ Greenhouse gases creating a dangerous situation ▫ Change in seawater chemistry

Coral Associations Corals as prey ▫Fish, such as parrotfish, tangs, butterfly fish ▫Sea snails and slugs ▫Marine worms, barnacles, crabs ▫Sea stars Corals as predators ▫Corals feed passively on plankton ▫Corals get nutrition from symbiotic relationship Symbiotic relationship ▫Zooxanthellae algae

Coral in Tides and Currents Powerful Waves From Hurricanes and Cyclones ▫Breakage Long Periods of Low Tides ▫Overexposure ▫Bleaching Currents Can Bring Pollution ▫Plastics and debris ▫Chemicals and sediment Feeding ▫Carry food to coral Reproduction ▫Carry eggs and sperm ▫Migration

Geological attributes of the Gulf A Mediterranean-type Sea ▫Bordered by  United States of America to the North  Mexico by the West  Cuba to the Southeast A Circular Basin Structure ▫about 1,500 km in diameter Water Enters The Gulf Through ▫Yucatan Strait  Circulates through what is called a loop current  Exits the Gulf through the Florida Strait Drainage Into The Gulf ▫Assisted by 20 major river systems  Covers over 3.8 million sq. km of the Continental U.S.

Conclusion 12-Day mission conducted as a channel to decrease ocean pollution Alternatives applied by groups and individuals Everyone should strive for reducing pollution Eco-friendly resources should be used to minimize pollution for future. Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico Coral

References Biello, D. (2011). Scientific American. How did the BP oil spill affect gulf coast wildlife? Retrieved 8 June 2012 from mexico-wildlife-and-ecosystems&page=2 Chameides, B. (2010). Can coral reefs adapt to climate change? Retrieved from Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). Retrieved from Fredericq, S. (2009). The wonderful world of seaweeds. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved from Freeman, M. (2012). MacGillivray Freeman’s Coral Reef Adventure. Retrieved 17 June 2012 from General Facts About the Gulf of Mexico. (1992). Retrieved from Guam Reef Life (n.d.). Crown of Thorns Outbreaks. Retrieved 20 June 2012 from Hickerson, E., & DuPuy, S. (2009). Connecting the dots. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved from Kennedy, J. (n.d.). Marine Life in the Gulf of Mexico: Gulf of Mexico Marine Animals and Plants. Retrieved 18 June 2012 from

References continued Klein, K. (2010). Voice of America. President Obama promises changes to prevent future oil spills. Retrieved 8 Jun 2012 from NOAA (2012). NOAA Ocean Service Education: Corals. Retrieved 17 June 2012 from NOAA. (2009). Northern Gulf of Mexico deep sea habitats Retrieved from NOAA (2012). Nonpoint Source Pollution. Retrieved 8 Jun 2012 from NOAA. (2009). Mission plan: “Gulf of Mexico deep sea habitats.” Retrieved from Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (2011). The Gulf of Mexico's Marine Mammals. Retrieved 18 June 2012 from The Nature Conservatory. (2012). Ocean acidification. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). What is nonpoint source pollution? Retrieved from Young, S. (2010). Oil spill affecting marine life, top to bottom. Retrieved from the Human Society website on 8 Jun 2012 from