Transcript The Marine Biome - Walker County Schools

The Marine Biome
ThE wOrLd OcEaN
All the oceans of the
world connect and make
up one large body of
water. This large body
of water is called the
world ocean. It is
thought of as one large
biome with many
ecosystems and
habitats.
Oceanic Zone
This is the largest zone in the ocean.
It occupies 90% of the surface area of the world ocean.
It is 200 m along continental slopes to as deep as 11,000 m below the
surface.
The photic zone accounts for a layer at the surface of
the ocean up to 200 m deep. This makes the only
producer of that ecosystem phytoplankton. They are
too small to support much life, but they turn Co2 into
billions of tons of organic carbon.
The phytoplankton are also a major food source in the
photic zone.
The aphotic zone of the ocean can be compared to a desert.
Except instead of lacking water, this zone lacks sunlight. This limits
the tpe of organisms that can survive there.
.
Many organisms have adapted to the deep, dark, cold waters.
Many of these organisms feed and dead material that had fallen
from the surface. This material is called detritus.
Most of these organisms are worms, clams, and sponges
All the oceans of the world are connected; however, they are
not all the same. Different factors cause the ocean to have
differences in temperature, salinity, and density.
Edges of continents do not just drop of suddenly into the ocean. The
shallow bored that surrounds the continent is called the continental
shelf.
The ocean region between the edge of the continental shelf and the
low tidemark is called the neritic zone.
The neritic zone lies within the photic zone, therefore it has ample
sunlight.
This zone is the most productive part of the ocean.
The most productive parts are the reefs and estuaries.
Coral
Reef
Reef: a natural structure built on
a
continental shelf.
Coral reefs are found in warm,
tropical waters. Kelp beds are
often found in cold waters.
Coral reefs are thought of as the
tropical rain forest of the
water biome. Coral reefs are
very productive and provide
homes for several organisms.
The reef also is a
breeding and feeding ground.
Most bony fish live on or depend
on the reef.
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CORAL REEF
The ecology of a coral
reef is
fragile. The reef is made
up
of calcium carbonate
skeletons of millions of
tiny
corals.
Only the top part of the
reef is alive.
Coral depends on a
symbiotic
Estuaries
Estuary: a region where a freshwater
source, usually the mouth of a river,
meets the salt water ocean.
Intertidal Zones
This zone is located along the shoreline of the
world ocean.
The intertidal zone alternates twice each
day between periods of submersion at high tide.
Organisms that live in this zone must be able to
endure exposed and submerged conditions. They
also have to withstand
the pounding of the surf.
Wetlands
Since intertidal zones occur where water meets land,
they are often surrounded by wetlands such as
salt marshes and mangrove swamps
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SALT MARSHES
Salt Marsh: flat, muddy wetlands that are often surrounded by
estuaries, bays, and lagoons.
The most important purpose it serves is for migratory birds. They
provide a place for food and rest during their long journeys.
The Mississippi River undergoes 5,000-year cycle of sediment accumulation ,
subsidence, and course changes.
The Mississippi River delta makes up 40% of the costal wetlands of the
contiguous United States
Salt Marshes
*Salt Marshes are formed when stream flow into the calm waters of estuaries or other
shallow neritic waters. The slowing of the water causes sediments to build up at the
mouth of the stream.
These build over time to form a delta. The weight of the accumulated sediments causes
the delta to sink under water in a process called subsidence.
This causes the course of the river to change sometimes.
.
Mangrove Swamp
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This wetland only occurs in warm climates. They can only exist in places that do not freeze more than
one or two days a year.
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The dominant plant of the mangrove is the mangrove, a woody plant that can be a tree or a shrub.
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The water in the mangrove contains a small amount of oxygen.
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The plants have adapted to the low oxygen level by having roots that stick out above the water.
Vocabulary Review.
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Oceanic –
Largest zone of the marine biome.
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Neritic Zone –
Warm waters that account for 10% of the
ocean
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Continental Shelf –
Area between the shore and 500m below
water’s surface continental.
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Reef –
Natural structure built on a continental shelf.
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Marshes –
Flat, Muddy wetland that surround bays and
lagoons
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Intertidal Zones –
Region with daily periods of exposure and
submersion
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Detritus –
Tiny pieces pf dead organic material that are
food for many aquatic organisms.
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Estuary A region of water where fresh water meets
salt water.