1. Lifestyles of Marine Organisms Essay – Jot Notes

2. Task Make jot notes to use as a guide for an essay question about the lifestyles of marine organisms. Make jot notes to use as a guide for an essay question about the lifestyles of marine organisms.

3. Task In your jot notes include what each of the different lifestyles are for marine organisms. Each group needs to be discussed so it is clear you know what they are and examples need to be given. Each group needs to be discussed so it is clear you know what they are and examples need to be given. Special adaptations need to be included about the organisms that place it in that group. Special adaptations need to be included about the organisms that place it in that group. Also include interesting facts about the organisms in that group. Also include interesting facts about the organisms in that group.

4. Introduction In the ocean just as on land all organisms rely directly or indirectly on the sun for energy In the ocean just as on land all organisms rely directly or indirectly on the sun for energy

5. Introduction Producers turn the suns energy into useable energy for consumers. Producers turn the suns energy into useable energy for consumers.

6. Introduction Consumers will feed on producers or other consumers for energy Consumers will feed on producers or other consumers for energy

7. Introduction Decomposers will feed on producers or consumers when they die and return nutrients to the system for producers to use. Decomposers will feed on producers or consumers when they die and return nutrients to the system for producers to use.

8. Introduction Form all of these organisms the ocean can be divided into three categories: Form all of these organisms the ocean can be divided into three categories: Plankton – Usually very small floating organism, either plants or animals, which are at the mercy of the tides winds and currents. Plankton – Usually very small floating organism, either plants or animals, which are at the mercy of the tides winds and currents. Nekton – Strong swimming animals that live in the open ocean, not affected by tides or currents. Nekton – Strong swimming animals that live in the open ocean, not affected by tides or currents. Benthos – Organisms that live on or in the ocean floor, could be plants or animal Benthos – Organisms that live on or in the ocean floor, could be plants or animal

9. Plankton These feeble swimming plants or animals are separated into phytoplankton (plants), which are producers, or zooplankton (animals) which are first order consumers These feeble swimming plants or animals are separated into phytoplankton (plants), which are producers, or zooplankton (animals) which are first order consumers

10. Plankton /phytoplankton Phytoplankton are mainly diatoms which are the most important food source in the ocean, usually single celled plants (algae). They are called this because of their silica shells symmetry which is designed to help them float. Phytoplankton are mainly diatoms which are the most important food source in the ocean, usually single celled plants (algae). They are called this because of their silica shells symmetry which is designed to help them float.

11. Plankton /phytoplankton Dinoflagellates represent both plants and animals; they are the second most important food source in the ocean. They are often responsible for shellfish becoming toxic or the “red tide” if they have an outbreak. Dinoflagellates represent both plants and animals; they are the second most important food source in the ocean. They are often responsible for shellfish becoming toxic or the “red tide” if they have an outbreak.

12. Plankton /Zooplankton This is the animal form of plankton. If their entire life is in this form they are called holoplankton and if they are only in this form for part of their life cycle they are called meroplankton This is the animal form of plankton. If their entire life is in this form they are called holoplankton and if they are only in this form for part of their life cycle they are called meroplankton

13. Plankton /Zooplankton These animals come in different sizes and are grouped into four categories: These animals come in different sizes and are grouped into four categories: nanoplankton – microscopic/unicellular nanoplankton – microscopic/unicellular microplankton – usually eggs and larval stage microplankton – usually eggs and larval stage macroplankton – usually about 1mm, copepods macroplankton – usually about 1mm, copepods megaplankton- mostly jellyfish. megaplankton- mostly jellyfish.

14. Nekton Nekton consists of all animals that are capable of swimming powerfully, mammals, reptiles, sharks, and fish. Squid are the only non-vertebrate that is a strong enough swimmer to be in this category. Nekton consists of all animals that are capable of swimming powerfully, mammals, reptiles, sharks, and fish. Squid are the only non-vertebrate that is a strong enough swimmer to be in this category.

15. Nekton Although many of these animals adapted to swimming great distances they usually remain close to one area because they have not adapted to environmental changes through the ocean. This area of the ocean is the pelagic zone, which consists of most of the ocean water. Although many of these animals adapted to swimming great distances they usually remain close to one area because they have not adapted to environmental changes through the ocean. This area of the ocean is the pelagic zone, which consists of most of the ocean water.

16. Benthos The benthic zone consists of plants (epiflora) and animals (epifauna) on or in the bottom. Some of these organisms are the sea fan, sponges, coral, crabs muscles, and sea weed. The benthic zone consists of plants (epiflora) and animals (epifauna) on or in the bottom. Some of these organisms are the sea fan, sponges, coral, crabs muscles, and sea weed.

17. Benthos Animals that are buried in the ocean floor like clams and worms are called (infauna) Animals that are buried in the ocean floor like clams and worms are called (infauna)

18. Benthos The larval stage of many benthic animals is an extremely important part of the meroplankton, thus a very valuable food source for the ocean. The larval stage of many benthic animals is an extremely important part of the meroplankton, thus a very valuable food source for the ocean.

19. Conclusion The ocean which is a marine biome is divided into three main parts: The ocean which is a marine biome is divided into three main parts: 1) Planktonic Zone – The top few feet of the ocean where plankton live. 2) Nektonic Zone – The open ocean where the inhabitants can swim to the surface or the bottom and are called nekton.

20. Conclusion 3) Benthic Zone – This is the floor of the ocean where the inhabitants called benthos are usually fixed to the bottom or sessile like coral. Some like lobster or crabs are mobile. Another zone is the Intertidal Zone – Organisms here are covered by water at high tide and are exposed to air during low tide. Many organisms here are adapted to living on land and under water.