“What are some characteristics of marine ecosystems or biomes?”

“What are some characteristics of marine ecosystems or biomes?”

http://www.edc.uri.edu/lme/clickable-map.htm Marine Ecosystems • Cover ¾ the Earth’s surface • Contain 97% of Earth’s water (Salt Water) • Have the largest animals • Abiotic factors shape the biomes Ex. Temp.

Intertidal Zone • Area where ocean meets land. • Has a tide Ex. Beach, rocky shores, mud flats http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/edgeofsea/tidepool.html

http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/rocky/tidezones.html

Neritic Zone • Area at the edge of the continental shelf. (200 m) • Lots of sun so lots of life (coral) • Phytoplantkon-micro. Organisms that make their own food. • Zooplantkton- feed on phytoplankton.

Oceanic Zone http://people.whitman.edu/~yancey/midwater.html • Deep water • Little or no light • Most organisms get energy by consuming organic material that falls from the surface. Ex. Whales, squid, bony fish

Benthic Zone • Deep sea floor • Get food by filtering or by heat • Ex. Tube worms, Bacteria, sea urchins

Examples of Marine Ecosystems

Coral Reefs • Live in mutualism relationship with single-celled algae (photosynthesis provides food).

The Sargasso Sea • Is in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean • Sargasso is a type of floating raft algae

Polar Ice • In the Artic Ocean and around Antarctica • Has nutrients from landmasses to feed plankton which supports the ecosystem.

Estuaries • Area where fresh water flows into the ocean from streams and rivers. • The salt levels vary.

Intertidal Areas • Organisms are able to “cement” themselves to rock. Ex. Worms, clams, crabs, star fish, plankton

So, what energy factor does each of the marine biomes have common?

“What are some characteristics of marine ecosystems or biomes?”