Marine Ecosystems

What determines a marine ecosystem? Temperature Temperature Available sunlight and nutrients Available sunlight and nutrients

Estuaries Ecosystem in which fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean Ecosystem in which fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean Nutrient trap Nutrient trap Richest ecosystem Richest ecosystem

Estuaries Plants & Animals Plants that root in mud- marsh grass Plants that root in mud- marsh grass Phytoplankton & zooplankton Phytoplankton & zooplankton Fish, dolphins, manatees, seals Fish, dolphins, manatees, seals Oysters, barnacles, clams Oysters, barnacles, clams All organisms adapted to varying levels of salinity All organisms adapted to varying levels of salinity

Threats to estuaries World’s major ports built in estuaries World’s major ports built in estuaries Tokyo, NY, Shanghai, Calcutta, Buenos Aries, Rio, Bombay Tokyo, NY, Shanghai, Calcutta, Buenos Aries, Rio, Bombay Pollution is the major threat due to population pressures Pollution is the major threat due to population pressures

Coral Reefs Limestone islands in the sea that are built by coral animals Limestone islands in the sea that are built by coral animals Contain 1000’s of species- most diverse ecosystem on Earth Contain 1000’s of species- most diverse ecosystem on Earth Only in warm, salty water with enough light for photosynthesis Only in warm, salty water with enough light for photosynthesis

Threats to Coral Reefs Temperature changes in the water Temperature changes in the water Pollution- oil spills, sewage, pesticides Pollution- oil spills, sewage, pesticides Careless divers, shipwrecks- PEOPLE! Careless divers, shipwrecks- PEOPLE!

Ocean Covers ¾ of the surface of the Earth Covers ¾ of the surface of the Earth Plants grow only where there is light Plants grow only where there is light Most ocean life is surrounded by shallow water around the edges of continents Most ocean life is surrounded by shallow water around the edges of continents Open ocean- sunlight penetrates only the surface layer Open ocean- sunlight penetrates only the surface layer Least productive of all ecosystems Least productive of all ecosystems Phytoplankton provides basis of food chain here Phytoplankton provides basis of food chain here

Ocean Adaptations Sleek shapes to move easily in the water Sleek shapes to move easily in the water Silvery color at the surface- camouflage Silvery color at the surface- camouflage Sharks- oily livers act like floats Sharks- oily livers act like floats Swim-bladders in bony fish Swim-bladders in bony fish Sunlight passes from surface to 100 meters into the sea Sunlight passes from surface to 100 meters into the sea

Threats to the Ocean Over fishing Over fishing Debris from fishing trapping marine mammals Debris from fishing trapping marine mammals Pollution- most in the ocean comes from the land Pollution- most in the ocean comes from the land Fertilizers causing algae blooms Fertilizers causing algae blooms Pesticides Pesticides Industrial waste and sewage Industrial waste and sewage

Polar Ecosystems Ice-covered polar caps at North and South Poles Ice-covered polar caps at North and South Poles Phytoplankton basis of all food chains here Phytoplankton basis of all food chains here

The Poles The South Pole- Antarctica is a permanent ice cap The South Pole- Antarctica is a permanent ice cap The North Pole- not at all on land- in Arctic Ocean- huge iceberg The North Pole- not at all on land- in Arctic Ocean- huge iceberg

The Arctic Ocean Shallow ocean- waters rich in nutrients which supports large populations of plankton Shallow ocean- waters rich in nutrients which supports large populations of plankton Whales, ocean birds, seals, polar bears Whales, ocean birds, seals, polar bears

The Antarctic Only continent never colonized by humans Only continent never colonized by humans Used for research Used for research Few plants at the rocky edges Few plants at the rocky edges Plankton- base of food chain Plankton- base of food chain penguins penguins

Threats to Polar Ecosystems Both poles contain reserves of minerals (OIL) that people want to gather at any cost Both poles contain reserves of minerals (OIL) that people want to gather at any cost