Marine Biology Flashcards
How are animals classified
Domain (Domains) Kingdom (Kingdoms) Phylum (Phyla) Class (Classes) Order (Orders) Family (Families) Genus (Genera) Species (Species)
What 4 characteristics are common to all marine ecosystems?
wide dispersal of larvae
significant nursery habitats where organism spend part of the life cycle
structure that provides protection
connectivity between habitats through currents, tides and life cycles
Define a biome
Community of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in.
Contains a subset of ecosystems. Within each ecosystem there are a variety of habitats.
What are the two marine biomes in Australia?
Northern Australian region (tropical)
Southern Australian region (temperate)
Identify ecosystems in a marine biomes
Estuaries Coastal lakes Saltmarshes Mangroves Seagrass Rock pools Tropical reefs Coral reefs Lagoons Shelf Deep water
Describe Estuaries
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it
Describe Coastal Lakes
A coastal lake is a body of coastal water with a barrier between it and the see.
Describe Saltmarshes
A saltmarsh is a body of water in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and open saltwater or brackish water that is regularly flooded by the tides.
Describe Mangroves
A mangrove is a salt tolerant shrub or small tree growing often in low oxygenated mud in intertidal coastal saline or brackish water.
Describe Seagrass
Seagrasses are flowering plants which grow in marine, fully saline environments.
Describe Rock Pools
Rock pools are shallow pools of seawater that form on the rocky intertidal shore. Many of these pools exist as separate bodies of water only at low tide.
Describe Tropical Reefs
A reef is a bar of rock, sand, coral or similar material, lying beneath the surface of water. Many are a result from abiotic processes.
What are abiotic processes
Depostition of sand, wave erosion planing down rock outcrops, and oher natural processes.
What is the difference between an ecosystem and a habitat
Habitat is the natural home of an animal, plant or other organism. An ecosystem is made up of living organisms and nonliving components such as air, water and mineral soil.
Describe Shelf
A continental shelf is a portion of a continenet that is submerged under an area of relatively shallow water known as a sea shelf.
