Marine Marine EcosystemsEcosystems

What determines a marine What determines a marine ecosystem?ecosystem?

TemperatureTemperature Available sunlight and nutrientsAvailable sunlight and nutrients

EstuariesEstuaries

Ecosystem in which fresh water from Ecosystem in which fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the rivers mixes with salt water from the oceanocean

Nutrient trapNutrient trap Richest ecosystemRichest ecosystem

EstuariesEstuariesPlants & Animals Plants & Animals

Plants that root in mud- marsh grassPlants that root in mud- marsh grass Phytoplankton & zooplanktonPhytoplankton & zooplankton Fish, dolphins, manatees, sealsFish, dolphins, manatees, seals Oysters, barnacles, clamsOysters, barnacles, clams All organisms adapted to varying All organisms adapted to varying

levels of salinitylevels of salinity

Threats to estuariesThreats to estuaries

World’s major ports built in World’s major ports built in estuariesestuaries Tokyo, NY, Shanghai, Calcutta, Buenos Tokyo, NY, Shanghai, Calcutta, Buenos

Aries, Rio, BombayAries, Rio, Bombay

Pollution is the major threat due to Pollution is the major threat due to population pressurespopulation pressures

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

Limestone islands in the sea that are Limestone islands in the sea that are built by coral animalsbuilt by coral animals

Contain 1000’s of species- most Contain 1000’s of species- most diverse ecosystem on Earthdiverse ecosystem on Earth

Only in warm, salty water with Only in warm, salty water with enough light for photosynthesisenough light for photosynthesis

Threats to Coral ReefsThreats to Coral Reefs

Temperature changes in the waterTemperature changes in the water Pollution- oil spills, sewage, Pollution- oil spills, sewage,

pesticidespesticides Careless divers, shipwrecks- Careless divers, shipwrecks-

PEOPLE!PEOPLE!

OceanOcean

Covers ¾ of the surface of the EarthCovers ¾ of the surface of the Earth Plants grow only where there is lightPlants grow only where there is light Most ocean life is surrounded by shallow Most ocean life is surrounded by shallow

water around the edges of continentswater around the edges of continents Open ocean- sunlight penetrates only the Open ocean- sunlight penetrates only the

surface layersurface layer Least productive of all ecosystemsLeast productive of all ecosystems Phytoplankton provides basis of food chain Phytoplankton provides basis of food chain

herehere

Ocean AdaptationsOcean Adaptations

Sleek shapes to move easily in the Sleek shapes to move easily in the waterwater

Silvery color at the surface- Silvery color at the surface- camouflagecamouflage

Sharks- oily livers act like floatsSharks- oily livers act like floats Swim-bladders in bony fishSwim-bladders in bony fish Sunlight passes from surface to 100 Sunlight passes from surface to 100

meters into the seameters into the sea

Threats to the OceanThreats to the Ocean

Over fishingOver fishing Debris from fishing trapping marine Debris from fishing trapping marine

mammalsmammals Pollution- most in the ocean comes Pollution- most in the ocean comes

from the landfrom the land Fertilizers causing algae bloomsFertilizers causing algae blooms PesticidesPesticides Industrial waste and sewageIndustrial waste and sewage

Polar EcosystemsPolar Ecosystems

Ice-covered polar caps at North and Ice-covered polar caps at North and South PolesSouth Poles

Phytoplankton basis of all food Phytoplankton basis of all food chains herechains here

The PolesThe Poles

The South Pole- Antarctica is a The South Pole- Antarctica is a permanent ice cappermanent ice cap

The North Pole- not at all on land- in The North Pole- not at all on land- in Arctic Ocean- huge icebergArctic Ocean- huge iceberg

The Arctic OceanThe Arctic Ocean

Shallow ocean- waters rich in Shallow ocean- waters rich in nutrients which supports large nutrients which supports large populations of planktonpopulations of plankton

Whales, ocean birds, seals, polar Whales, ocean birds, seals, polar bearsbears

The AntarcticThe Antarctic

Only continent never colonized by Only continent never colonized by humanshumans

Used for researchUsed for research Few plants at the rocky edgesFew plants at the rocky edges Plankton- base of food chainPlankton- base of food chain penguinspenguins

Threats to Polar Threats to Polar EcosystemsEcosystems

Both poles contain reserves of Both poles contain reserves of minerals (OIL) that people want to minerals (OIL) that people want to gather at any costgather at any cost