The Ocean The Ocean BiomeBiome

By:By:Brandi Free Brandi Free

AndAndIsabelle CostelloIsabelle Costello

What the Ocean looks like…What the Ocean looks like…

• The ocean is very big and mostly blue and as The ocean is very big and mostly blue and as you get you get farther down it gets darker and darker. The farther down it gets darker and darker. The upper upper area of the ocean is more colorful because of area of the ocean is more colorful because of the the

surrounding plants. surrounding plants. • It’s the largest biome by taking up It’s the largest biome by taking up

about 72% of the earth. This biome contains fiveabout 72% of the earth. This biome contains five different parts: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic different parts: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic

Ocean, Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Arctic

Ocean. Which merge into each other at some Ocean. Which merge into each other at some location. Since the ocean is so large many location. Since the ocean is so large many animals are undiscovered and/or unidentified.animals are undiscovered and/or unidentified.

The Food Web…The Food Web…

• The food web, when shortened, is not too complicated in the ocean. It has many creatures, from angelfish to zooplankton, you name it, and it is probably living in the ocean.

• Because the ocean has such a wide variety of very different creatures, it will be best to just use an example for the food web. Bacteria and phytoplankton are some of the many producers. Shrimp, small fish, and squid eat the phytoplankton and bacteria. Seals, bigger fish, and penguins eat the shrimp, small fish, and squid. The top predator in this example would be none other than the killer whale.

The ocean biome takes up over The ocean biome takes up over 72% of the earth.72% of the earth..

Temperatures Ranges…Temperatures Ranges… • Temperatures vary greatly depending on which Temperatures vary greatly depending on which

ocean, and how deep you are in the ocean. The ocean, and how deep you are in the ocean. The temperatures on land do not affect the temperatures on land do not affect the temperatures of the ocean. Instead, the ocean temperatures of the ocean. Instead, the ocean affects the temperatures on land. However, the affects the temperatures on land. However, the average temperature of all oceans is 39°F. average temperature of all oceans is 39°F.

• Precipitation is not a factor in the ocean. Precipitation is not a factor in the ocean. Adaptations for animals to live in the ocean Adaptations for animals to live in the ocean include having sleek, smooth bodies to move include having sleek, smooth bodies to move around easily with, gills to breathe through, around easily with, gills to breathe through, eyes on each side of the head to spot predators eyes on each side of the head to spot predators from many angles, and fins to control direction from many angles, and fins to control direction and to just swim around freely. Some fish also and to just swim around freely. Some fish also can blend into their surroundings to keep away can blend into their surroundings to keep away from predators. The adaptation for plants is to from predators. The adaptation for plants is to become a non-vascular plant.become a non-vascular plant.

How we use the ocean…

• Humans use the ocean biome very heavily for various reasons. These reasons are: transportation, recreation, fishing for food, oil, medicine, and to get other resources.

• Pollution of the ocean is a major problem. The largest cause for pollution would be the many oil spills. Other causes of pollution include fertilizers and household cleaning products. Luckily for ocean occupants, there are multiple organizations formed to ensure there will be people to help the ocean and prevent any further harmful and dangerous pollution.

How We Can Help…How We Can Help…

• We can greatly help the environment by not We can greatly help the environment by not putting household products down the sink, use putting household products down the sink, use fertilizers sparingly, recycling, cutting any 6-pack fertilizers sparingly, recycling, cutting any 6-pack rings before throwing them away to make sure rings before throwing them away to make sure no fish are choked, and buying harvested no fish are choked, and buying harvested seafood to make sure less fish were harmed in seafood to make sure less fish were harmed in the process of making it. the process of making it.

• Remember, every person counts, every action, Remember, every person counts, every action, as little as it may be, can help save an ocean as little as it may be, can help save an ocean creature’s life.creature’s life.