Ocean

1. Ocean

2. What Is It? A body of saline water that composes a large part of a planet's hydrosphere. In the context of Earth, it refers to one or all of the major divisions of the planet's World Ocean – they are, in descending order of area, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic), and Arctic Oceans.

3. Plant Adaptation? Buoyancy Adaptations Most ocean going plants have adapted to their environment by developing gas sacs and air sacks to lift their photosynthetic surfaces towards the surface of the water, to collect sunlight. Structural Differences From Land-Based Plants Two major differences between oceanic plants and land based ones are structural. Land-based plants use roots to pull up nutrients and water from the soil using vascular action, and the entire structure of the plant is built around this function. Salinity Tolerance Ocean plants have to be able to handle the dissolved salt in the water; the adaptation mechanisms range from living in (comparatively) low salinity regions of the ocean to complex mechanisms that break down salt slowly into chlorine and sodium ions.

4. Animal Adaptation? Blubber: some animals have blubber to survive in cold water. Hair: Sea otters are an exception. They have really dense hair, up to a million every square inch Gills: Animals also adapt by finding ways to breathe. Some animals come up to the surface for water, some have gills, and some float or swim. Fish and other organisms that live underwater can take their oxygen from the water, either through their gills or their skin.

5. Temperatures: Many ocean animals are cold-blooded (ectothermic) and their internal body temperature is the same as their surrounding environment. Marine mammals, however, have special considerations because they are warm-blooded (endothermic) Water Pressure: In the oceans, water pressure increases 15 pounds per square inch for every 33 feet of water. While some ocean animals do not change water depths very often, far-ranging animals such as whales.

6. Threats Oil spills account for only about five percent of the oil entering the oceans. The Coast Guard estimates that for United States waters sewage treatment plants discharge twice as much oil each year as tanker spills. Each year industrial, household cleaning, gardening, and automotive products pollute water. About 65,000 chemicals are used commercially in the United States today, with about 1,000 new ones added each year. Only about 300 have been extensively tested for toxicity. Air pollution is responsible for almost one-third of the toxic contaminants and nutrients that enter coastal areas and oceans. When nitrogen and phosphorus from sources such as fertilizer, sewage and detergents enter coastal waters, oxygen depletion occurs. One gram of nitrogen can make enough organic material to require 15 grams of oxygen to decompose. A single gram of phosphorus will deplete one hundred grams of oxygen.

7. Bottom Trawling Ancient forests in danger ... deep under the ocean. Biologists estimate that somewhere between 500,000 and 5,000,000 marine species have yet to be discovered. Many of these species are in serious danger from the world's most destructive fishing practice - bottom trawling. Global Warming Global warming impacts all life on Earth, and the oceans are no exception. From coral bleaching to sea level rise and higher ocean temperatures, entire ecosystems are rapidly changing, and animals are having a difficult time surviving the impacts.

8. Cartoon Characters Finding Nemo Ponyo on the cliff Sammy’s Adventure