Aquatic Biome & Species Diversity
Oceans....
- • Oceans occupy 75% of Earth surface
- • Oceans are areas of low diversity and low produc%vity except for near the shoreline
- • Areas are low in nitrogen & phosphorous which limits plant growth small organisms that feed on them
- • Large animals occur but in low density
Ocean Food Energy Pyramid
Intertidal....
- • Area of shoreline exposed to water during high %de & air during low %de
- • Water movement brings in nutrients & removes waste products
- • Water has high thermal capacity so organisms don’t spend energy on temp. regula%on
- • Water screens out UV radia%on
Intertidal Zone....
- • Extremely rich in biodiversity
- • Suscep%ble & sensi%ve to pollu%on from land runoff & ocean pollu%on
Filter Feeders
**Use a siphon to filter feed phytoplankton reducing energy spent on finding food
Sea Urchins & Star Fish....
Water moves gametes & larvae to new areas. Larvae travels like plankton.
Intertidal Foodweb...
Species Evolution....Intertidal
- • Species have evolved methods of not being swept away by waves
- • Evolved ways to prevent water loss during low tide through shells & exoskeletons
- • Have salt-removing mechanisms & lower metabolic rates due to cooler ambient temperatures
Biome....Coastal Zones
- • Includes estuaries, wetlands & coral reef
- • High diversity & counts of animal & plant species due to runoff from land
- • Examples: Goleta Slough, Montana de Oro, Morro Bay, Tijuana Estuary
Tijuana Estuary
Goleta Slough
Estuary...Brackish Waters
Biome....Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs....
- • Warm, clear, shallow ocean habitats near land
- • Generally in the tropics
Fringing Reefs....
•Grow on continental shelves near coastline
Coral Reefs... --Environmental Problem
- • Disappearing at an alarming rate due to:
- • Increase in sea temperature
- • Pollution
- • Dredging
- • Sedimentation
Barrier Reefs
•Parallel to shoreline but farther from shore
Coral Atolls
•Rings of coral that grow on top of sunken oceanic volcanoes-- Midway Island
Biome...Benthos (Hadal)
- • Bottom of the oceans
- • No sunlight = no plant life
- • Primary input of energy comes from dead organic ma\er se\ling & chemosynthesis (at hyrdothermal vents)
Biome...Hydrothermal Vents
- • Occur in deep ocean
- • Located where hot-water vents (black smokers) at mid-ocean ridges
- • Rich in sulfur compounds that provide energy from tube worms through chemosynthetic bacteria