Marine Ecosystems Notes

Question 1

Abyssal Plain

Answer 1

The flat before the ocean floor drops into an ocean trench
Covers 70% of the ocean floor
Most unknown/unstudied organisms in the ocean
Organisms mainly feed on marine snow
Recycles carbon in the ocean
3,000 - 6,000 meters
No sunlight
Atlantic has more of these than any other ocean

Question 2

Deep Water Coral

Answer 2

Found all over the world
Nursery of deep ocean
Do not rely on sunlight, get energy from small drifting organisms
45 - 300 meters

Question 3

Whale Fall

Answer 3

Bring in lots of life, who feed on the carcass
Dead whale floats down to abyssal plain
Some creatures make homes in the bones of the deceased animal
Provides food for about a year

Question 4

Brine Pools

Answer 4

Large underwater pool
Highly toxic
Tube worms, bacteria and few others can survive
Salty and dense water

Question 5

Artic Ocean

Answer 5

Smallest of the 5 main oceans
On average 28 F
Shallowest of main oceans
Over 500 species
Organisms have lots of blubber/fat/fur to keep warm
Helps control global temperature
Lots of freshwater stored in glaciers and ice

Question 6

Antarctica

Answer 6

South pole
Coldest continent
Surrounded by Southern ocean
Huge sheet of ice, 4 miles deep at most

Question 7

Coral Reefs

Answer 7

Shallow water
68 F - 90 F
Largest biological structures on Earth
Protection, and nursery for fish
Slow growing (10,000 million years old)

Question 8

Deep Sea

Answer 8

3,000 - 6,000 meters deep
Absorb heat accumulation from greenhouse gasses
Dark, cold, high pressure
Organisms feed on marine snow
Largest ocean ecosystem
Anything that is dark is considered deep sea

Question 9

Hydrothermal Vents

Answer 9

Mid-ocean ridges
Unique ecosystems
Minerals and chemical deposits
No sunlight

Question 10

Kelp Forest

Answer 10

Shallow, cool waters
Pacific coasts
Dense population, high biodiversity
Oxygen dense water
Anemone/sea urchins eat kelp and keep it under control
Kelp is like underwater bamboo

Question 11

Open Ocean

Answer 11

Produces half of the worlds oxygen
70% of Earth’s surface
Everything that is not ocean floor, is open ocean
Only 5% explored

Question 12

Rocky Shore

Answer 12

Shallow
All over the world
Provides shelters for barnacles and muscles

Question 13

Sandy Shore

Answer 13

Have high nutritional content
Great breeding and nesting sights
Support lower trophic levels