Marine Biome and Biodiversity

Biome: A distinct ecological community of plants and animals living together in a particular climate

The Marine Biome covers about three-fourths of the Earth’s surface. Divided into 3 main regions: 1. Ocean 2. Coral Reefs 3. Estuaries

1. Oceans The ocean biome can be separated into several different ecosystems, each characterized by different biotic and abiotic factors, such as temperature, substrate, plants and animals. Biotic: Living Abiotic: Non-living

We’re going to look at: Kelp forests Mangrove swamps Migratory animals

Focus for all ecosystems: FOOD! In an ecosystem, energy is recycled through living organisms. Autotrophs make their own food using energy from the sun (plants, algae, bacteria) Heterotrophs need to eat other organisms to get energy herbivores (eat plants, algae, bacteria) omnivores (eat plants and animals) carnivores (eat animals primarily)

Energy is cycled through the food chain: who eats whom?

Basically:

So, what’s at the base of all these aquatic food chains? One guess…

Plankton Plankton are tiny open-water plants, animals or bacteria. The name is derived from a Greek root that means, "wanderer." These organisms range in size from microscopic bacteria and plants to larger animals, such as jellyfish. Plankton generally have limited or no swimming ability and are transported through the water by currents and tides.

Marine Plankton -- microscopic ocean animals - magnified 140 times

3 types of plankton: phytoplankton–microscopic plants and bacteria (photosynthetic, these are the autotrophs) ex. diatoms 2. zooplankton–microscopic animals (eat phytoplankton) ex. dinoflagellates 3. macrozooplankton–larger fish eggs and larvae and pelagic invertebrates. Ex. jellyfish

Giant Jellyfish

Plankton nets Net is hauled slowly for a known distance behind a ship and organisms carefully removed

Why Collect and Study Plankton? 1)They are the beginning of food chains in the sea and are very important in ocean food webs. The abundance of plankton directly correlates to the abundance of other marine organisms. (more plankton = more fish, sharks and whales!) 2) Red tides – a type of oceanic algae bloom that tinges the water red. We need to avoid shellfish that have been exposed to the toxins produced in a red tide.

IN YOUR JOURNAL March 11th: What is plankton’s role in the Ocean? What would happen if there was a large increase or decrease in the amount of plankton?