Life at the Ocean's Edge

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Life at the Ocean's Edge

• Objectives -- After completing the lesson,
  students will be able to
• describe the factors that affect where ocean
  organisms live
• identify the conditions that organisms in the
  rock intertidal zone must overcome
• name and describe the major types of coastal
  wetlands

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Living ConditionsWhat are the seven physical
factors that affect organisms in marine habitats?

• Salinity
• Water Temperature
• Light
• Dissolved Gases
• Nutrients
• Wave Action
• Exposure to Air

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Marine organismsHow are marine organisms
classified?

• Marine organisms are classified according to
  where they live and how they move
• Plankton - tiny algae and animals that float in
  the water and are carried by waves and currents.
• Nekton - free-swimming animals that can move
  throughout the water column. Examples Octopus
  and squid, most fishes, whales, dolphins, sharks,
  etc
• Benthos organisms that inhabit the ocean floor.
  Examples crabs, sea stars, lobsters (are able
  to move), sponges and sea anemones (stay in one
  location).

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Marine organisms

• Algae Plankton Diatoms

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Marine organisms

• Animal Plankton Copepods (Microscopic
  crustaceans) Food for fish

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Marine organisms

• Nekton Free-swimming animals

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Marine organismsWhat is a Food Web?

• Food Web Feeding relationships of marine
  organisms in an ocean habitat.
• Many Plankton and Benthos produce their own food
  through photosynthesis while others are
  consumers.
• All Nekton are consumers (feeds on plants and/or
  animals). They eat algae or other consumers.
• Most Benthos are decomposers. They break down
  wastes and remains of other organisms.

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Ocean HabitatsRocky Shores Intertidal Zone

• The intertidal zone stretches from the highest
  high-tide line on land out to the point on the
  continental shelf exposed by the lowest low tide.
• Organisms that live in the rocky intertidal zone
  must be able to tolerate the pounding of the
  waves and changes in salinity and temperature.
• They must also withstand periods of being
  underwater and periods of being exposed to the
  air.
• They must avoid drying out, hide from predators,
  and find food in this harsh setting.

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Ocean HabitatWhy do different organisms live in
different levels of the intertidal zone?

• Organisms have adapted for different
  conditionsgreater or lesser wave intensity, more
  or less exposure to sun and air, and changes in
  temperature and salinity. Examples
• Barnacles can close up their hard shells,
  trapping a drop of water inside to carry them
  through the dry period until the next high tide.
• Some organisms hold on to rockslimpets large ,
  muscular foot and mucus mussels sticky threads
  algae root-like structures sea stars tiny
  suction cups.
• Spiny sea urchins use their spines to dig a hole
  in which to bury themselves during heavy surf.