Introduction to OCEAN ZONES and Marine Organisms Ms. Bridgeland
3 Major Ocean Zones Intertidal Neritic Open Ocean
Ocean Zones 1)Intertidal Zone: the shallow zone that begins at the highest high-tide line on land and stretches out to the point on the continental shelf that is the lowest tide -the distance between the highest and lowest tides 2)Neritic Zone: extends from the lowest tide line out to the edge of the continental shelf 3)Open-ocean Zone: everything beyond the continental shelf that includes the deepest, darkest part of the ocean
Life in the Ocean Scientists classify marine (ocean) organisms based on two ways: 1) Where they live 2) How they move
3 Categories of Ocean Organisms Plankton – floating Nekton –free swimming Benthos –still or moving on the ocean floor
3 Categories of Ocean Organisms 1) Plankton: tiny algae and animals that float in the water and are carried by waves and currents. Algae plankton include geometrically shaped diatoms Animal plankton include tiny fish and microscopic crustaceans, such as copepods. There are a few larger plankton such as jellyfish.
Planktonic Algae Diatoms
Animal Plankton: Copepods
2) Nekton: free-swimming animals that can move throughout the water column. *What are examples of Nekton?
2) Nekton Squid Most FISH Marine Mammals
What are Marine Mammals? (Nekton) Whales Seals
3) Benthos Organisms that live on the ocean floor: – Can stay stationary (still) Sponges Sea anemones – Can move around from place to place Crabs Sea stars Octopus Lobsters
Plankton, Nekton, Benthos
Fun Fact Many plankton are algae Certain plankton, nekton, AND benthos eat other algae or organisms –what is this called?
Consumers Animals that eat other organisms
Food Webs All of the feeding relationships that exist in a habitat PLANKTON is highly important in ocean food webs. All organisms depend either directly or indirectly on it – Why?
Plankton Some of the largest sharks on earth feed directly on tiny plankton The Earth’s largest animal (the Blue Whale) also feeds only on plankton (krill)