Marine Ecology

Mr. Bushman

Ecology

Study of how an organism interacts with its environment (living and non-living)

Terrestrial ecosystems

on land

Marine ecosystems

ocean ecosystems

Marine producers

Organisms that make their own energy usually by photosynthesis.

Algae

Make up 95% of marine producers (micro - single celled or a chain of cells and macro

True plants (marine producers)

Sea grasses and mangroves (make up 5% of marine producers)

Heterotrophs

Consume other organisms for energy (Ex: Whales, fish)

Scavengers

Heterotrophs that feed on dead material

Plankton

Any organism that cannot swim against the current for prolonged periods.

Phytoplankton

Plankton that are producers.

Zooplankton

Plankton that are heterotrophs.

Nekton

Any organism that can swim against the current for prolonged periods.

Marine Snow

Small organic matter that sinks from shallow water to deep water

Substrate zone

Material that covers the bottom of a body of water (EX: Gravel, rocky substrate, sandy substrate, muddy substrate, coral reef (living substrate))

Benthic zone

Includes substrate and 2-3 feet above the substrate.

Pelagic zone

Portion of the ocean that extends from top of the benthic zone and rises to surface of the ocean.

Intertidal zone

Between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide (littoral zone, closest to the shore)

Rocky intertidal zone

Intertidal zone with tidepools.

Sandy intertidal zone

Intertidal zone with sand.

Muddy intertidal zone

Intertidal zone with mud.

Subtidal zone

Portion of the ocean that covers the continental shelf.

Continental shelf

Portion of the continent that extends into the ocean.

Continental slope

Portion of the ocean that drops off.

East Coast (US)

Has a huge subtidal zone/continental shelf.

West Coast (US)

Has a short subtidal zone/continental shelf.

Bathyal, abyssal, and hadal zones

Make up the continental slope and abyssal plains.

Abyssal plains

Deeper than the continental slope, flattened out region.

Bathyal zone

Covers the top of the continental slope.

Abyssal zone

Covers the middle of the continental slope.

Hadal zone

Covers the lowest part of the continental slope.

Aphotic zone

Portion of a body of water where producers are making less energy than they require

Photic zone

Portion of a body of water where producers make more energy than they require

Phytoplankton stay in photic zone

By producing more lipids which decrease their density, allowing them to float.

Compensation point

Portion of a body of water where the producer makes exactly the amount of energy they require (different for different producers).