1. Benefits of & Threats to Oceans Ecology March 10, 2009 March 10, 2009

2. Troubled Waters In January 1998, more than 1,600 marine scientists and conservation biologists from 65 countries have issued an unprecedented warning to the world's governments and citizens that the sea is in trouble. In January 1998, more than 1,600 marine scientists and conservation biologists from 65 countries have issued an unprecedented warning to the world's governments and citizens that the sea is in trouble. Troubled Waters paints a dismaying picture of the destruction of marine biological diversity. Troubled Waters paints a dismaying picture of the destruction of marine biological diversity.

3. “Year of the Ocean” Today, more than two-thirds of the world's population live within 50 kilometers of the ocean -- a figure that will likely rise to 75 percent by 2020. Today, more than two-thirds of the world's population live within 50 kilometers of the ocean -- a figure that will likely rise to 75 percent by 2020. To increase awareness of human impacts on the world's oceans and the many resources that the ocean sup plies, the United Nations named 1998 as the Year of the Ocean (YOTO). To increase awareness of human impacts on the world's oceans and the many resources that the ocean sup plies, the United Nations named 1998 as the Year of the Ocean (YOTO).

4. Most serious threats today… #1 Species Overexploitation Species Overexploitation Overfishing & overhunting of specific organisms results in a loss of biodiversity Overfishing & overhunting of specific organisms results in a loss of biodiversity Ex: octopus Ex: octopus in Morocco in Morocco

5. Most serious threats today… #2 Habitat Degradation Habitat Degradation Destruction of coral reefs, mangrove forests, salt marshes, etc. for development construction, tourism, mining, & other commercial ventures. Destruction of coral reefs, mangrove forests, salt marshes, etc. for development construction, tourism, mining, & other commercial ventures. Damage to the sea floor by huge factor “trawlers” that drag heavy nets across the bottom along the continental shelves, and deep sea floor mining operations. Damage to the sea floor by huge factor “trawlers” that drag heavy nets across the bottom along the continental shelves, and deep sea floor mining operations.

6. Most serious threats today… #3 Pollution Pollution Excessive nutrients (ex: Dead Zone* in the Gulf of Mexico), fertilizers (nitrogen & phosphorous), pesticides, persistent toxic organic pollutants (POPs) such as PCBs (which can bioaccumulate in fatty tissue), trash (ex: plastic), etc. from dumping or runoff from land. Excessive nutrients (ex: Dead Zone* in the Gulf of Mexico), fertilizers (nitrogen & phosphorous), pesticides, persistent toxic organic pollutants (POPs) such as PCBs (which can bioaccumulate in fatty tissue), trash (ex: plastic), etc. from dumping or runoff from land. * Hypoxia (no O 2 )

7. A note about PCBs PCBs = Polychlorinated biphenyls PCBs = Polychlorinated biphenyls Found in coolants and lubricants Found in coolants and lubricants Manufacture of PCBs stopped in United States in 1977 Manufacture of PCBs stopped in United States in 1977

8. Most serious threats today… #4 Upsetting Balanced Marine Ecosystems Upsetting Balanced Marine Ecosystems Predator-prey relationships are disrupted  leads to a steep decline in the population of some species and population explosions of other species. Predator-prey relationships are disrupted  leads to a steep decline in the population of some species and population explosions of other species. Ex: Think about what we learned about the stellar sea lions in Alaska Ex: Think about what we learned about the stellar sea lions in Alaska

9. Most serious threats today… #5 Climate Change Climate Change Global warming is causing a rise in ocean levels (melting ice sheets), more intense storms, & a rise in ocean temperatures which Global warming is causing a rise in ocean levels (melting ice sheets), more intense storms, & a rise in ocean temperatures which can result in the loss can result in the loss of some species of some species including plankton including plankton (the base of all (the base of all marine ecosystems). marine ecosystems).

10. Most serious threats today… #6 Ozone Depletion Ozone Depletion The depletion of the protective ozone layer allows UV rays to penetrate and affect The depletion of the protective ozone layer allows UV rays to penetrate and affect photosynthesis photosynthesis and even kill and even kill phytoplankton. phytoplankton.

11. Benefits we gain…#1 Food Food Nearly 1 billion people depend on fish for 30% of their animal protein. Nearly 1 billion people depend on fish for 30% of their animal protein.

12. Benefits we gain…#2 Transportation Transportation Includes sea trade, fishing ships, oil tankers, aircraft carriers, etc. Includes sea trade, fishing ships, oil tankers, aircraft carriers, etc. 90% of international trade moves by ocean!! 90% of international trade moves by ocean!!

13. Benefits we gain…#3 Mining Mining For sand, gravel, coral, & minerals (Mg, Au, Ni, and Cu  magnesium, gold, nickel, & copper) in deep sea deposits. For sand, gravel, coral, & minerals (Mg, Au, Ni, and Cu  magnesium, gold, nickel, & copper) in deep sea deposits.

14. Benefits we gain…#4 Medicines Medicines Many current medicines are produced from chemicals found in sea organisms, and there is the potential for many new discoveries. Many current medicines are produced from chemicals found in sea organisms, and there is the potential for many new discoveries. Ex: A chemical found in dogfish is now used to stop the spread of cancer. Ex: A chemical found in dogfish is now used to stop the spread of cancer.

15. Benefits we gain…#5 Biological Diversity Biological Diversity 32/33 types of life forms live in the ocean. 32/33 types of life forms live in the ocean. Only insects are missing Only insects are missing

16. Benefits we gain…#6 Oxygen Production Oxygen Production Phytoplankton photosynthesizing in the ocean (which covers over 70% of the globe) produce oxygen for the atmosphere. Phytoplankton photosynthesizing in the ocean (which covers over 70% of the globe) produce oxygen for the atmosphere. Oxygen exchange between water and atmosphere. Oxygen exchange between water and atmosphere.

17. Benefits we gain…#7 Regulating Climate (Global Warming) Regulating Climate (Global Warming) The photosynthesizing plankton remove carbon dioxide form the atmosphere and most of the world’s carbon is sequestered in ocean sediments. The photosynthesizing plankton remove carbon dioxide form the atmosphere and most of the world’s carbon is sequestered in ocean sediments. Carbon dioxide exchange between atmosphere & water. Carbon dioxide exchange between atmosphere & water.

18. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans Ecology March 11, 2009 March 11, 2009 Take out a piece of paper & write down what to study for upcoming test… See side board

19. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans…#1 Replanting mangrove trees in warm coastal areas, saving coastal wetlands & artificial reefs Replanting mangrove trees in warm coastal areas, saving coastal wetlands & artificial reefs Serve as “nurseries” & shelters for many marine organisms (many of which are endangered) Serve as “nurseries” & shelters for many marine organisms (many of which are endangered)

20. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans…#2 Establishing marine refuges & sanctuaries Establishing marine refuges & sanctuaries Places where fish & marine mammals can have a chance to safely reproduce & increase their numbers Places where fish & marine mammals can have a chance to safely reproduce & increase their numbers A scuba-diving researcher investigating changes to corals in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (Credit: NOAA)

21. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans…#3 Promoting sustainable fish harvesting methods Promoting sustainable fish harvesting methods Devise safer, less Devise safer, less destructive fishing methods destructive fishing methods Put limits on the # of Put limits on the # of endangered species that endangered species that can be fished legally. can be fished legally. Cod, herring, halibut, flounder, etc.

22. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans…#4 Promoting sustainable mining practices Promoting sustainable mining practices Use environmentally friendly extraction processes so to limit sea floor disruption. Use environmentally friendly extraction processes so to limit sea floor disruption.

23. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans…#5 Educating people Educating people Educate people to see oceans not as a frontier to exploit, but as a scientific frontier to explore and use carefully Educate people to see oceans not as a frontier to exploit, but as a scientific frontier to explore and use carefully

24. Efforts Needed to Save Oceans…#6 Entering into international agreements Entering into international agreements Whose goals are to cooperatively save our oceans! Whose goals are to cooperatively save our oceans! Marpol Treaty  marine pollution (ex: plastic trash) Marpol Treaty  marine pollution (ex: plastic trash)