Aquatic Ecology Course Zoo 374

Marine Life Forms Marine BacteriaPlankton Phyto- plankton Zoo- plankton Nekton fish & mammals Benthos Phyto- Benthos& Macro-algae Zoo-benthos Invertebrate animals Again

Benthos & Nekton

Benthos Benthic Flora Benthic Fauna Seagrass Green Algae Kelp Bed Red AlgaeBrown Algae Megafauna Macrofauna Meiofauna Microfauna

Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Kelp bed

Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Aquatic Vegetations Kelp bed Marsh grass Seagrass Bed Montaza Bay, Alexandria, By Prof., Hesham Mostafa

Marine Life Forms Marine BacteriaPlankton Phyto- plankton Zoo- plankton Nekton fish & mammals Benthos Phyto- Benthos& Macro-algae Zoo-benthos Invertebrate animals Again

Nekton in Open Ocean Ecosystems Nekton are pelagic animals that swim freely, independent of water motion or wind, (the active swimmers of the oceans) and are often the best-known organisms of marine waters. Nekton

Nekton (Cont.) - Plankton and herbiverous nekton live in photic zone, some graze on plant material throughout the water column. - Carnivorous nekton live mostly below the photic zone, move vertically in search of food. - Omnivorous nekton are most common at bathyl depths. - Detritus feeders tend to occur at depths greater than carnivores.

Nekton (Cont.) Most nekton are chordates, animals with bones or cartilage. This category of nekton includes: * Bony fish (most common) * Cartilaginous fish (sharks and rays) * Mammals (whales, seals, porpoises and dolphins) * Reptiles (Turtles, snakes, iguana and saltwater crocodiles) * Sea birds (Penguins)