Ch. 3.4.2: Aquatic Biomes- Marine Biomes

Coastal zone location

high tide mark to edge of continental shelf

what areas have high net primary productivity

estuaries, coastal wetlands, mangrove forests, coral reefs

what are the two most important factors in a marine ecosystem to have a high net primary productivity?

sunlight and nutrients

the coastal zone makes up less than __% of the ocean but may contain up to__% of the organisms

10, 90

Intertidal zone location

between high and low tide

the intertidal zone is ___ and ____ due to ____ twice a day

submerged and exposed; tides

what do the tides in the intertidal zone cause variations in?

availability of water, nutrients, temperature fluctuations, and waves

how have organisms adapted to the waves in the intertidal zone?

vertical stratification of organisms attached to surface, burrow in ground

the use of beaches by humans has caused a decrease in what?

bird and turtle nests

the use of beaches by humans has caused an increase in what?

chemical, human, and physical pollution

how is oil drilling economically beneficial and harmful

oil rigs provide jobs, oil spills repels income from tourism

one of the world’s most productive and diverse ecosystems is?

coral reefs

where are most coral reefs located?

warm (sub)tropical water

what are coral reefs formed by

cnidarians and their calcium carbonate skeleton

what do the cnidarians allow attachment of?

other cnidarians, sponges, algae, and invertebrates and fish

what do corals have a symbiotic relationship with?

algae

algae produces __% of the organic material/ energy for coral

60

what is another way (besides algae) that corals can get their organic matter

filter feed material from water

how do coral reefs help moderate atmospheric temperature?

remove CO2 from ocean and atmosphere

coral reefs act as barriers to what?

erosion and storms

what is the economical value of coral reefs

support fishing and tourism industries

what is the ecological benefit of coral reefs

provide home, nurseries, and feeding stations

what percent of coral reefs have been destroyed, how many severely damaged?

15%, 20%

what are coral reefs susceptible to?

pollution, over-harvesting, global warming, invasive predators

what are some things that poison reefs?

chemical fertilizers, insecticides, industrial pollutants, human waste

what causes coral to “choke”

algae growth from excess fertilizers

what causes coral bleaching?

global warming

what organism has destroyed many South Pacific reefs?

crown of thorns sea stars

under what circumstances does coral bleaching occur?

temperature reaches above 30 C

what happens during coral bleaching?

algae produces too much oxygen, so coral expels it and causes it to die

during what event do many coral reefs experience bleaching>

el niño

what causes ocean acidification 

increases in CO2

what does water react with during ocean acidification

CO2

what do CO2 and H2O form in ocean acidification

carbonic acid

what does carbonic acid do to coral reefs

dissolves calcium carbonate skeletons and impedes ability to make new skeletons

what are the four scientific principles of sustainability?

thrive on solar energy, cycle nutrients, large biodiversity, maintains with network of interactions

where does the continental shelf become the continental slope

open sea

list the three vertical zones of oceans

Euphotic, Bathyal, Abyssal

which two ocean zones are photic? which one is aphonic?

Euphotic and Bathyal; Abyssal

phytoplankton in the Euphotic zone account for __% of the world’s photosynthesis

40

describe nutrient levels, DO, and organisms in Euphotic zone

low nutrients except at upwellings, high DO, large predatory fish

describe the primary production of open ocean

primary production is low, but open ocean is so large it accounts for a lot of the word’s production

Bathyal zone light, photosynthesis, and organisms

dimly lit, no photosynthesis, high in zooplankton, squid, and small fish

describe the migratory patterns of organisms in the Bathyal zone

migrate upwards at night to feed

Abyssal zone light, DO, nutrients, and organisms

no light, low DO, high in nutrients, deposit and filter feeders and bacteria

why is nutrient content high in the Abyssal zone

marine snow

filter feeders

extract nutrients from the water

deposit feeders 

extract nutrients from mud

Thermocline

rapid change in temperature, warm above, cold below

Halocline

rapid change in salt concentration, less salt above, more salt below

where does the halocline play a prominent role

Sub-Arctic and North Pacific oceans

_____ resists mixing of water

strong salinity gradient

Pycnocline

rapid change in water density, more dense below

within how many miles is considered near the coast

120 miles

how much of the world’s ocean area has been heavily affected by humans? how much as been disturbed by humans?

40%, 100%

list the ways that humans cause major threats to the marine ecosystem

coastal development, overfishing, runoff from waste, fertilizer, and pesticides, sewage from cruise ships and oil spills, trawler fishing, invasive species, pollution of estuaries, climate change

what is non-point source pollution

pollution that spreads from diffuse sources

what is point source pollution

pollution that comes from a specific source