Lesson 1 Marine Ecosystems

Factors that influence all ecosystems

• Abiotic Factors– pH– Salinity– Dissolved Oxygen– Turbidity– Lat/Long.– Observation of weather– Temperature– Light– Waves/Tides

• Biotic Factors– Organisms

• Predators/prey/ parasites

Coral Reefs• Most biodiverse marine

ecosystem– Biodiversity =health of

ecosystem

Abiotic Factors

• Abiotic factors– Temperature: Tropical– Shallow waters: Availability of light– Wave action– Nutrient poor: why water is pretty blue in color=

lacks nutrients• So why is it the most biodiverse ecosystem

when there are so few nutrients available?– Symbiosis!!!! What is definition?

Biotic Factors• Mutualistic relationship– Corals = animals– Zooxanthellae:

zooplankton• Can’t live without

another. Coral give zooxanthellae N, P, and CO2 and zoo give corals carbohydrates

• Forms basis of community that provides food and shelter to all other organisms

Location of World’s Coral Reefs

Types of Reefs

• Fringing Reefs- directly borders landmass:– Ex. Cayman Islands

• Barriers Reefs: separated from landmass by a lagoon– Ex: Australia and Florida

• Atolls: arise from deep water and have lagoon in center– Most in pacific islands

Threats to Reefs

1. Coral Bleaching : (take notes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EGvE5mTxRI&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

2. Disease1. Black band disease-caused by

bacteria2. White pox- killed 85% of Elkhorn

corals in Keys3. Others

3. Human Impact1. Coastal development = increased

runoff (leads to algae blooms like red tides)

2. Activities: snorkeling/diving disturbing corals

• Partially enclosed body of water that is open to the sea/ocean(salt h2o) and has rivers and streams(freshwater) running into it.

What is an estuary?

• Marine characteristics– Salinity– Tides– waves

• Freshwater characteristics– Flow of freshwater– Flow of sediments (sand,

silt, gravel)

Has characteristics of BOTH marine and Freshwater environments

• Type of estuary– Located in the intertidal zone between land and

salt/brackish water– Dominated by salt tolerant plants– Important for environment• to the food web and export nutrients to water• Provide habitats for birds and other land animals• Serve as nurseries for juvenile fish• Protect coast from erosion from hurricanes

What is a salt marsh?

Plant Succession

Genus Species-Spartina Alterniflora-Common Name-”SmoothCordgrass”

Genus Species- Spartina patensCommon Name- saltmeadow cordgrass

Genus species- Salicornia virginicaCommon name-Pickleweed

Genus species- Batis maritimaCommon Name- turtleweed

Genus- JuncusCommon Name- Rush

Terrestrial Animals- Birds

Intertidal animals-Fiddler Crab

Fish species

Mangroves

• Found in south of St. Augustine to Key West– More stable salinity than salt marsh

• 3 genra local to Florida– Rhizophora mangle –red mangle-----prop roots– Avicennia germinans – black mangle---

pneumatophores– Laguncularia racemosa- white mangle

• Distinctive by their root system and pods

Ecologically Important

• Mangrove leaf little (detritus) forms the basis of the food web.

• Supports many commercially important species of fish– Blue crab– Shrimp– Lobster– Sea trout

• Habitats– Prop root and pneumatophores provide shelter– West Coast of Fl. roots become incrusted with coon

oyster– East Coast of Fl. Mussels and barnacles are dominant

mollusk species.– Other species can find

• King Conch• Periwinkle snails• Sea stars brittlestars• Sea squirts

Black Mangrove

Red Mangrove

Red, White, and Black mangrove leaves

White Mangrove

Deep Sea• Get Blue Marine Biology Book from shelf– Read pgs. 407-419 and answer SHORT ANSWER questions on pg. 423 # 1-7• Be sure to restate the question in your answer or write

the question since you don’t have these questions to refer back to in your text books.

Other Marine EcosystemsEcosystem

What it’s like there Biotic factors Abiotic factors Where you can find it

Open Ocean

Receives light (photosynthesis can occur)No land nearbySchools of fish

Whales, sharks, schools of tuna, phytoplankton

Sunlight, various temps., wide open spaces, not many places to hide

Middle of ocean like Atlantic between U.S and Europe

Polar Seas Cold, dominated by ice, high variation in seasons (b/c of Earth’s tilt)

Polar bears beluga, orcas, krill, seals, penguins, phytoplankton

Ice, snow, lots of light in summer, little in winter

North pole, south pole

Kelp Forest

Dense forest of kelp growing from seafloor to surface

Kelp, sea otters, sea urchins, mussels, crabs, snails

Rocky coastlines, sunlight, cool temps.

Washington State (west coast above Cali)

Rocky Shore

Intertidal, harsh habitat b/c of wave action, wet and dry times bet. tides

Inverts: crabs, barnacles, chitons, mussels, seaweeds

Rocks, sand, waves, sunlight, tides

Maine, Mass., California, Oregon, Washington.

Warm-up- as scientist study and track marine animals, why is it important to understand that the ocean is comprised of many ecosystems?

• Case Study 1- Whale Falls– View Video- Answer 3 questions on pgs. 9 – Read pg 10- answer question 12.

Read pgs. 14-16 Marine Sanctuaries and Florida’s Marine Sanctuary

• Answer Following: #17 on pg. 15 And Why will it never be possible for a President to

“okay” drilling for Oil in the Florida Key’s. Give 2 reasons or examples of why.