Marine Habitats Organisms

Question 1

How are marine organisms classified

Answer 1

According to where they live and how they move:
Plankton (gloaters)
Nekton (swimmers)
Bethos (bottom dwellers)

Question 2

Describe Plankton

Answer 2

All organisms - algae, animals, and bacteria that drift with ocean currents. eg. phytoplankton (microscopic), zooplankton (larvae)

Question 3

Describe Nekton

Answer 3

Include all animals capable of moving independently of the ocean currents, by swimming or other means. eg. fish and squid.

Question 4

Describe Benthos

Answer 4

Organisms living on or in the ocean bottom. eg. sea star, crab

Question 5

How are marine life zones defined

Answer 5

By availability of sunlight, distance from shore and water depth.

Question 6

Sunlight (Photic zone)

Answer 6

Upper part of the ocean where sunlight penetrates. Photosynthesis occurs in the euphotic zone which is the top of the surface. Not below 100m.

Question 7

Distance from shore

Intertidal zone, neritic zone, oceanic zone

Answer 7

Intertidal - where land and sea overlap.
Neritic zone - gently sloping continental shelf, rich in nutrients that wash in from the land. Supports 90% of worlds fisheries, biomass and species where photosynthesis occurs
Oceanic zone - Ocean ocean, deep water, lower nutrient concentrations. Low in nutrients that sink out to the ocean floor.

Question 8

Water Depth (Pelagic zone, benthic zone, abyssal zone)

Answer 8

Pelagic zone - open ocean. Fish, sea turtles, dolphins
Benthic zone - sea bottom surface. Kelp, sponges, crabs, sea anenomes
Abyssal zone - Deal ocean floor and abyssal plans. High water pressure, no sunlight.

Question 9

What is the difference between plankton and nekton

Answer 9

Nekton are able to move independently of ocean currents, plankton cannot.

Question 10

In which area of the ocean do most benthos organisms live

Answer 10

On the shallow coastal ocean floor

Question 11

What factors are used to divide the ocean into marine life zones?

Answer 11

Availability of sunlight, distance from shore, water depth

Question 12

Why is the neritic zone rich in life?

Answer 12

Conditions are ideal for photosynthesis because there is light and nutrients from runoff from the land, the bottom provides shelter and habitat.

Question 13

What is the difference between the photic zone and aphotic zone

Answer 13

Sunlight pentrates the photic zone, no sunlight reaches the aphotic zone.