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Thursday Dec. 12, 2013 BrainTeaser. What raises the salinity of ocean water? What lowers the salinity of ocean water? What is an upwelling and why is it important? Why are estuaries one of the most productive ecosystems on earth?. Why is the water encountered on earth rarely pure ?
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Thursday Dec. 12, 2013BrainTeaser • What raises the salinity of ocean water? What lowers the salinity of ocean water? • What is an upwelling and why is it important? • Why are estuaries one of the most productive ecosystems on earth?
Why is the water encountered on earth rarely pure? • How do animals in the intertidal zone survive? • How can there be life in the deep ocean?
Human pollution, runoff • Since the are affected by the motion must be adapted to the rise and fall of the tide. Most animals are mobile for this reason (snails, crabs, etc) There are few plants here due to the motion. • Openings in the ocean floor called thermal vents release heat. Small ecosystems are around these vents. These autotrophs uses energy instead of light to make there own food, known as chemosynthesis
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 • What is a watershed, and why are they necessary? • Why is it important to monitor the health of your local watershed?
Wed., Jan. 9, 2013BRAINTEASER • What do Wetlands do that helps our ecosystem? (3 main things) • Can water from a stream on a mountain affect an estuary hundreds of kilometers away? EXPLAIN!
They trap sediment: • They use a lot of excess nutrients: • Wetlands provide habitats for both water and land animals.
Thurs., Jan. 10, 2013 • How does the weather affect water quality? • We are using a sponge to represent the wetland, what do you suppose a wetland does?
Run off pollution is the main source for non-point pollution which pollutes our water source. • Sponges suck up water, so a wetland helps soak up filter the pollution that gets in our water. They always have water
Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 • Name at least 2 examples of Point source pollution and 2 examples of Non-point-source pollution. • Many people enjoy spending time on sailboats and motorboats. How can these people avoid contributing to water pollution?
Upcoming • Project Parent Letters • Quiz grades tomorrow • Review percentage of water
Homework Check. • For those who hadn’t finished notes.
FAST FACT • The banks of many estuaries are amongst the most heavily populated areas of the world, with about 60% of the world's population living along estuaries and the coast. • Why do you think this happens?
ESTUARY INFO: • Nursery Habitats – rich in nutrients and plant life (food and places to hide) • Feeding Grounds • A lot of biodiversity • Most of our seafood comes from them (fish, shrimp, clams, crab, etc.) • Water is BRACKISH • Other names: inlets, bays, harbors, lagoons, and sounds
Estuary = Nursery Habitat • In North Carolina we have 2.2 million acres of estuarine habitat. This is a nutrient rich environment that supports a great diversity and abundance of aquatic life. In fact, estuaries are called nursery habitat because many marine animals, such as fish and shrimp, start out their lives as eggs and juveniles in the estuary. Others, like dolphins, sharks and sea turtles use the estuaries as feeding areas or refuges. Much of the seafood that we eat relies upon having clean and healthy estuaries.
Salinity • is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water or in soil. • Salinity levels vary in different parts of the ocean • Typically 3.5% • Challenge Question: Who can explain the logic behind this statement??? • Salinity is lower where precipitation is higher than evaporation.
