Ocean Habitats Chapter 12
Animals of the Benthos 98% of marine species are benthic Hydrothermal vents Rocky shore Coral reefs
Coral Reefs of the World (Figure 12-16)
Coral Reefs: Tops in Marine Biodiversity
Coral Reef Morphology (Figure 12-17)
Coral Reef Zone Tour currents, wave surge, sunlight, water depth 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off
Beach Zone: sands derived from erosion of reef limestone Boxer crab doesn’t eat anemones but uses them as weapons
Coral Reef Zone Tour currents, wave surge, sunlight, water depth 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off
Reef Flat: RIGOROUS environment wave action, intense UV radiation, high salinities, warm temps corals are hermatypic (depend on zooxanthellae algae that live in coral poly tissues)
Coral & Zooxanthellae (Figure 12-14)
Reef Flat: Sharks & mantas frequent visitors
Coral Reef Zones currents, wave surge, sunlight, water depth 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off
Algal Ridge:
Coral Reef Zones currents, wave surge, sunlight, water depth 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off
Submarine Terrace
Submarine Terrace: Increasing coral cover attract fishes that prefer rich coral growth Basslett fish (haremic, capable of sex reversal)
Coral Reef Zones currents, wave surge, sunlight, water depth 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off
Terrace
Coral Reef Zones currents, wave surge, sunlight, water depth 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off
Slope
Coral Reef Zones 1 - Beach 2 - Reef Flat 3 - Algal Ridge 4 - Sub-Terrace 5 - Terrace 6 - Reef Slope 7 - Drop-off lowest light levels, few sunlight-dependent corals some feed on zooplankton and can descend as low as 1000 m
Drop Off: Soft corals are non-reef building (no zooxanthellae), no limestone skeleton, secrete toxins to discourage competitors
Deepsea Corals live off of the dead Desmophyllum cristagalli
National Marine Sanctuaries Map courtesy of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary System
The World Ocean Floor
Maps courtesy of National Park of American Samoa
Artwork by Jayne Doucette, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
By OrSt grad student Emily Larkin
FBNMS: Some Major Issues Natural & human impacts – Crown-of-thorns invasion, hurricanes, bleaching – Illegal fishing, sewage outfall Photos courtesy of NOAA National Marine Sanctuary System
FBNMS: Some Major Issues Prior to 2001… – Sanctuary largely unexplored below depths of ~30-60 m – no comprehensive documentation of the plants, animals, and submarine topography. Little is known of tropical “twilight zone” – shelf-edge ( m deep) of coral reef habitats throughout the world
Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 2001 bathy
Images courtesy of Kip Evans, Nat. Geographic and Rich Pyle, Bishop Museum SCUBA / Rebreather Technology
Rebreather Dive Mission, FBNMS, 2001
BPI Zone and Structure Classification Flowchart Emily Lundblad, OrSt M.S. Thesis
Extra Credit #5 - Finding Nemo 5 copies will be on reserve by this weekend at Valley Library or rent it from a video store –1-page reaction paper, typed, SINGLE-spaced –Discuss what in the movie is related to the class Currents? Habitats? Fisheries? Conservation? Due by 5:00 Friday, May 27th –Hand in to your TA please !!! –Worth up to 20 pts. on final exam