Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems

Ocean coasts support Ocean coasts support plant and animal lifeplant and animal life

Habitat – an environment that has all necessary Habitat – an environment that has all necessary requirements for an organism to live.requirements for an organism to live.

Intertidal Zone – the habitat at the edge of the Intertidal Zone – the habitat at the edge of the ocean.ocean.

Estuaries – the place where fresh water from Estuaries – the place where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean.the ocean.

Wetlands – wet, swampy areas that are often Wetlands – wet, swampy areas that are often flooded at the edge of estuaries.flooded at the edge of estuaries.

ECOLOGICAL ADVANTAGESECOLOGICAL ADVANTAGES Climate moderationClimate moderation COCO22 absorption absorption

Nutrient cyclingNutrient cycling Waste treatment and dilutionWaste treatment and dilution Reduced storm impact (mangrove, Reduced storm impact (mangrove,

barrier islands, coastal wetlands)barrier islands, coastal wetlands) Habitats and nursery areas for marine and Habitats and nursery areas for marine and

terrestrial speciesterrestrial species Genetic resources and biodiversityGenetic resources and biodiversity Scientific informationScientific information

ECONOMIC ADVANTAGESECONOMIC ADVANTAGES FoodFood Animal and pet feed (fish meal)Animal and pet feed (fish meal) PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals Harbors and transportation routesHarbors and transportation routes Coastal habitats for humansCoastal habitats for humans RecreationRecreation EmploymentEmployment Offshore oil and natural gasOffshore oil and natural gas MineralsMinerals Building materialsBuilding materials

Types of Marine EcosystemsTypes of Marine Ecosystems

EstuariesEstuaries Salt marshesSalt marshes Rocky shoresRocky shores Sandy ShoresSandy Shores Coral reefCoral reef Mangrove swampMangrove swamp Barrier islandsBarrier islands

EstuariesEstuaries An area in which fresh water from a river mixes An area in which fresh water from a river mixes

with salt water from the ocean; a transition area with salt water from the ocean; a transition area from the land to the ocean. Other names: bay, from the land to the ocean. Other names: bay, sound, lagoon, harbor, or bayou.sound, lagoon, harbor, or bayou.

River bringing freshwater to

the sea

The Ocean

Area where fresh and salt

water mix

Characteristics of Characteristics of EstuariesEstuaries

Water is brackish : a mixture of freshwater and Water is brackish : a mixture of freshwater and saltwatersaltwater

There is a gradual increase in salinity as you There is a gradual increase in salinity as you go from the river (0-5ppt) to the middle of the go from the river (0-5ppt) to the middle of the estuary (5-25ppt), to the ocean (>25 ppt).estuary (5-25ppt), to the ocean (>25 ppt).

(ppt = parts per thousand, a unit for salinity)(ppt = parts per thousand, a unit for salinity) Pollutants are absorbed in estuaries.Pollutants are absorbed in estuaries.

Characteristics of Characteristics of EstuariesEstuaries

Very nutrient rich ecosystems Very nutrient rich ecosystems leads to high leads to high productivity and high biodiversity.productivity and high biodiversity.

Fast-moving rivers and waves carry nutrient-Fast-moving rivers and waves carry nutrient-rich particles.rich particles.

Sediment settles out in the estuary when the Sediment settles out in the estuary when the water slows down.water slows down.

Nutrients accumulates on the bottom (benthic Nutrients accumulates on the bottom (benthic zone).zone).

Great place for plants to grow!Great place for plants to grow!

Estuary plantsEstuary plantsPlants must be adapted to salty habitatPlants must be adapted to salty habitat

cordgrass

eelgrass

glasswort – a succulent

Estuary animalsEstuary animalsHuge variety including… Huge variety including…

Blue crab, Stone crab, Fiddler crab, Blue crab, Stone crab, Fiddler crab, Horseshoe crab, Mosquito, Lobster, Horseshoe crab, Mosquito, Lobster, Flounder, Stripped bass, Crane, Flounder, Stripped bass, Crane, Flamingo, Sea gull, Ibis, Manatee, Flamingo, Sea gull, Ibis, Manatee, otters, and many more.otters, and many more.

Salt MarshesSalt Marshes A low area that is subject to regular, but gentle, A low area that is subject to regular, but gentle,

tides, dominated by grasses.tides, dominated by grasses. Salt marshes do not have trees or shrubsSalt marshes do not have trees or shrubs Location: Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coastLocation: Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast

Texas salt marsh

Mangrove Mangrove SwampsSwamps

Coastal wetlands Coastal wetlands located in tropical located in tropical and subtropical and subtropical zones; characterized zones; characterized by salt-tolerant trees by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs, such as and shrubs, such as mangrove treesmangrove trees

Rocky shoresRocky shoresAlso called rocky intertidal zone – many places to Also called rocky intertidal zone – many places to

live in this habitat, means high biodiversitylive in this habitat, means high biodiversityOrganisms must be adapted to wave action, Organisms must be adapted to wave action,

changing tide levelschanging tide levels

Rocky ShoresRocky ShoresAt low tides, there are often tide pools left At low tides, there are often tide pools left

behind where you can see starfish, behind where you can see starfish, anemones, crabs, octopusanemones, crabs, octopus

Sandy ShoresSandy ShoresNot as much biodiversity as rocky shores – Why?Not as much biodiversity as rocky shores – Why?

1.1.not much habitat diversity not much habitat diversity

2.2.sand dries out at low tide sand dries out at low tide

some small things can live in the sand, food for some small things can live in the sand, food for shorebirdsshorebirds

Barrier IslandsBarrier Islands

Narrow islands made of Narrow islands made of sand that provide a sand that provide a buffer for the mainland buffer for the mainland from the seafrom the sea

Constantly shifting, Constantly shifting, especially with stormsespecially with storms

Ex: North Carolina Ex: North Carolina OuterBanksOuterBanks

Barrier beach

Silversides

Blue crab

Low tide

Dwarfolive

Clam

Beach flea

Tiger beetle

High tide

GhostshrimpMole

shrimp

Sandpiper

Peanut worm

White sandmacoma

Sand dollar Moon snail

Ocean Beach

Intensive recreation,no building

Primary Dune

No direct passage

or building

Trough

Limitedrecreation

and walkways

Secondary Dune

No direct passage

or building

Bay orLagoon

Intensiverecreation

Back Dune

Most suitablefor development

Grasses or shrubs Taller shrubs

Taller shrubs and trees

Bay shoreNo filling

Barrier IslandsBarrier Islands

Think about ecological succession as you move away from the ocean. What is the “disturbance” in this ecosystem?

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs Structures in the shallow oceans that are built by Structures in the shallow oceans that are built by

animals called corals; serve as a habitat for many animals called corals; serve as a habitat for many diverse organismsdiverse organisms

Require two things: warm temperatures and sunlight Require two things: warm temperatures and sunlight Found between 30Found between 30°N and 30°S of the equator°N and 30°S of the equator

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

There are many different kinds of corals:There are many different kinds of corals:

Soft coralsHard corals

Coral ReefsCoral ReefsGrowing on the reef with Growing on the reef with

the corals are other the corals are other animals, such as animals, such as sponges, worms, sponges, worms, shrimps, crabs, shrimps, crabs, mollusksmollusks

Living in and around the Living in and around the reef are fish, sea reef are fish, sea turtles, sea snakes, turtles, sea snakes, marine mammalsmarine mammals

Coral Reef DestructionCoral Reef Destruction1. Coral bleaching – when 1. Coral bleaching – when

temperatures go above temperatures go above normal, the algae in the normal, the algae in the coral can be rejected, coral can be rejected, the coral turns a whitish the coral turns a whitish color and dies. color and dies.

Natural and/or manmade Natural and/or manmade causes: El Nino, Global causes: El Nino, Global warmingwarming

Coral Reef DestructionCoral Reef Destruction2. Physical damage 2. Physical damage

Ships, anchors, tourist diversShips, anchors, tourist divers

Dynamite fishing - reefs are damaged by Dynamite fishing - reefs are damaged by physical destruction that may occur when physical destruction that may occur when people collect fishpeople collect fish

Coral Reef DestructionCoral Reef Destruction

3.3. Land development and pollution – loss Land development and pollution – loss of mangrove forests means more of mangrove forests means more nutrients and sediments flow out to the nutrients and sediments flow out to the sea; coral may die from sediment or sea; coral may die from sediment or algal bloomsalgal blooms

4.4. Fish and coral tradeFish and coral trade

5.5. Increased exposure to UV due to ozone Increased exposure to UV due to ozone depletiondepletion

Human Interactions Effect Human Interactions Effect ShorelinesShorelines

Half of coastal wetlands lost to agriculture Half of coastal wetlands lost to agriculture and urban developmentand urban development

Over one-third of mangrove forests lost Over one-third of mangrove forests lost since 1980 to agriculture, development, and since 1980 to agriculture, development, and aquaculture shrimp farmsaquaculture shrimp farms

About 10% of world’s beaches eroding About 10% of world’s beaches eroding because of coastal development and rising because of coastal development and rising sea levelsea level

Ocean bottom habitats degraded by Ocean bottom habitats degraded by dredging and trawler fishing boatsdredging and trawler fishing boats

Human Interactions Effect Human Interactions Effect ShorelinesShorelines

Over 25% of coral reefs severely damaged Over 25% of coral reefs severely damaged and 11% have been destroyedand 11% have been destroyed

UPWELLINGUPWELLINGWinds blowing across the ocean surface push

water away. Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away.