Intro Marine Ecology

• Ecology: relationship of living things/environment

• Marine Ecology: interdependence of all organisms in the ocean.

Marine Environment

• Abiotic Factors: nonliving elements/ Chemical, Geological, Physical Variables

• Biotic Factors:organisms / interactions among organisms

What is abiotic/biotic?

• Water• Light• Temperature• pH value• Salinity• Substratum• Plants• Dissolved Gases

• Pressure• Tides• Currents• Animals• Waves• Exposure to Air

Biotic Levels of Organizations

• Individual: one organism• Population: group of individuals of one

species (organisms) Habitat

• Communities: plants and animals inhabiting the same physical area.

• Ecosystems: Many communities / large geographic area.

Population

Communities

Characteristics of an Ecosystem

1. Requires a source of energy.

2. Organisms capturing energy / produce organic molecules.

3. Organic material available to all.

4. Cycle nutrients between environments

Zonation of Marine Environment

• See handout

Ecological Distribution

• Pelagic Organisms: in the water Plankton- drifting organisms. Nekton- swimmers

• Benthic Organisms: in or on substrate (sand/rock) burrow, crawl, walk, or affixed Epifauna:live on. Infauna:live within

Plankton/ Nekton

Epifauna/Infauna

Trophic (Feeding) Relationships

• Autorophs: absorb sunlight energy & transform inorganic mineral nutrients into organic molecules. Producers

• Heterotrophs: consumers / cannot synthesize their own food. Need producers.

• Decomposers: live on dead plant and animal. Break down organic material / inorganic nutrients.

Energy Transfer

• Pyramid of numbers: numerical relationship of trophic (feeding) levels.

• Energy Pyramid: energy distribution at each trophic level.

Pyramid of Numbers

Pyramid of Numbers

Pyramid of Numbers

Energy Pyramid

Energy Pyramid

Lost Energy/Energy Pyramid

1. Consumer do not consume (eat) entire organism.

2. Energy used in capture (food).

3. Energy used in metabolism.

4. Energy lost as heat.

* 10% energy pass to next level.

Lost Energy/Energy Pyramid

Food Chain/Energy Pyramid

Food Web

Types of Food Relationships

• Predator-Prey: Predator Needs? Prey Needs?

• Scavenger: Feed on dead plants and animals

• Symbiotic/Symbiosis: nutritional association

Symbiosis in Marine Animals

• Parasitism: (+;-) one benefits, one harmed or interfered with body function.

• Commensalism: (+;0) one benefits, one neither gains or loses.

• Mutualism: (+;+) both benefit.

Parasitism/ Isopod on Fish

Commensalism/Anemone &Crab

Mutualism/Clown & Sea Anemone

Mutualism/Clam & Zooplankton

Population Cycles

• Changes season/season and year/year

• Regulated by Natality (new organisms) and Mortality (rate of death)

• What are factors that affect population cycles?

Biomass Lab Activity

• The Living Ocean: