Lifestyles of Marine Lifestyles of Marine OrganismsOrganisms

Essay – Jot NotesEssay – Jot Notes

TaskTask

Make jot notes to use as a guide Make jot notes to use as a guide for an essay question about the for an essay question about the lifestyles of marine organisms.lifestyles of marine organisms.

TaskTask

In your jot notes include what each of the different lifestyles are for marine organisms.

Each group needs to be discussed so it is Each group needs to be discussed so it is clear you know what they are and examples clear you know what they are and examples need to be given.need to be given.

Special adaptations need to be included Special adaptations need to be included about the organisms that place it in that about the organisms that place it in that group.group.

Also include interesting facts about the Also include interesting facts about the organisms in that group.organisms in that group.

IntroductionIntroduction

In the ocean just as on land all In the ocean just as on land all organisms rely directly or indirectly organisms rely directly or indirectly on the sun for energyon the sun for energy

IntroductionIntroduction ProducersProducers turn the suns energy into turn the suns energy into

useable energy for consumers. useable energy for consumers.

IntroductionIntroduction

ConsumersConsumers will feed on producers or will feed on producers or other consumers for energyother consumers for energy

IntroductionIntroduction

DecomposersDecomposers will feed on producers will feed on producers or consumers when they die and or consumers when they die and return nutrients to the system for return nutrients to the system for producers to use.producers to use.

IntroductionIntroduction Form all of these organisms the ocean can Form all of these organisms the ocean can

be divided into three categories:be divided into three categories: PlanktonPlankton – Usually very small floating – Usually very small floating

organism, either plants or animals, which are organism, either plants or animals, which are at the mercy of the tides winds and currents.at the mercy of the tides winds and currents.

NektonNekton – Strong swimming animals that live in – Strong swimming animals that live in the open ocean, not affected by tides or the open ocean, not affected by tides or currents.currents.

BenthosBenthos – Organisms that live on or in the – Organisms that live on or in the ocean floor, could be plants or animalocean floor, could be plants or animal

PlanktonPlankton These feeble swimming plants or These feeble swimming plants or

animals are separated into animals are separated into phytoplanktonphytoplankton (plants), which are (plants), which are producers, or producers, or zooplanktonzooplankton (animals) (animals) which are first order consumerswhich are first order consumers

PlanktonPlankton/phytoplankton/phytoplankton

PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton are mainly are mainly diatomsdiatoms which are the most important food which are the most important food source in the ocean, usually single source in the ocean, usually single celled plants (algae). They are called celled plants (algae). They are called this because of their silica shells this because of their silica shells symmetry which is designed to help symmetry which is designed to help them float.them float.

PlanktonPlankton/phytoplankton/phytoplankton

DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates represent both represent both plants and animals; they are the plants and animals; they are the second most important food source second most important food source in the ocean. They are often in the ocean. They are often responsible for shellfish becoming responsible for shellfish becoming toxic or the “red tide” if they have an toxic or the “red tide” if they have an outbreak.outbreak.

PlanktonPlankton/Zooplankton/Zooplankton

This is the animal form of plankton. This is the animal form of plankton. If their entire life is in this form they If their entire life is in this form they are called are called holoplanktonholoplankton and if they and if they are only in this form for part of their are only in this form for part of their life cycle they are called life cycle they are called meroplanktonmeroplankton

PlanktonPlankton/Zooplankton/Zooplankton

These animals come in different sizes These animals come in different sizes and are grouped into four categories:and are grouped into four categories: nanoplanktonnanoplankton – microscopic/unicellular – microscopic/unicellular microplanktonmicroplankton – usually eggs and larval – usually eggs and larval

stagestage macroplanktonmacroplankton – usually about 1mm, – usually about 1mm,

copepodscopepods megaplanktonmegaplankton- mostly jellyfish.- mostly jellyfish.

NektonNekton Nekton consists of all animals that Nekton consists of all animals that

are capable of are capable of swimming swimming powerfullypowerfully, mammals, reptiles, , mammals, reptiles, sharks, and fish. sharks, and fish. SquidSquid are the only are the only non-vertebrate that is a strong non-vertebrate that is a strong enough swimmer to be in this enough swimmer to be in this category.category.

NektonNekton Although many of these animals Although many of these animals

adapted to swimming great adapted to swimming great distancesdistances they usually remain close to they usually remain close to one area because they have one area because they have not not adapted to environmental changes adapted to environmental changes through the oceanthrough the ocean. This area of the . This area of the ocean is the ocean is the pelagic zone, pelagic zone, which consists which consists of most of the ocean waterof most of the ocean water..

BenthosBenthos The benthic zone consists of The benthic zone consists of plantsplants

(epiflora) and (epiflora) and animals animals (epifauna) on (epifauna) on or in the bottom. Some of these or in the bottom. Some of these organisms are the sea fan, sponges, organisms are the sea fan, sponges, coral, crabs muscles, and sea weed.coral, crabs muscles, and sea weed.

BenthosBenthos

Animals that are Animals that are buried in the buried in the ocean floorocean floor like clams and worms like clams and worms are called (infauna)are called (infauna)

BenthosBenthos The The larval stagelarval stage of many benthic of many benthic

animals is an extremely important animals is an extremely important part of the part of the meroplanktonmeroplankton, thus a , thus a very valuable food source for the very valuable food source for the ocean.ocean.

ConclusionConclusion

The ocean which is a The ocean which is a marine biomemarine biome is divided into three main parts:is divided into three main parts:

1) 1) Planktonic ZonePlanktonic Zone – The top few – The top few feet of the ocean where plankton feet of the ocean where plankton live.live.

2) 2) Nektonic ZoneNektonic Zone – The open – The open ocean where the inhabitants can ocean where the inhabitants can swim to the surface or the bottom swim to the surface or the bottom and are called nekton.and are called nekton.

ConclusionConclusion

3) 3) Benthic ZoneBenthic Zone – This is the floor of the – This is the floor of the ocean where the inhabitants called benthos ocean where the inhabitants called benthos are usually fixed to the bottom or sessile are usually fixed to the bottom or sessile like coral. Some like lobster or crabs are like coral. Some like lobster or crabs are mobile.mobile.

Another zone is the Another zone is the Intertidal ZoneIntertidal Zone – – Organisms here are covered by water at Organisms here are covered by water at high tide and are exposed to air during low high tide and are exposed to air during low tide. Many organisms here are adapted to tide. Many organisms here are adapted to living on land and under water.living on land and under water.