Life Away From Shore

1
Life Away From Shore

• Ocean life differs farther away from shore.

2
Conditions in the Neritic Zone

• The shallow water over the continental shelf
  receives sunlight and a steady supply of
  nutrients washed from the land into the ocean.
• The light and nutrients enable large plantlike
  algae to grow.

3
Life in the Neritic Zone

• More organisms live here than in any other ocean
  zone.
• B/C of the supply of nutrients.
• Nutrients are washed off of land and supplied by
  upwelling currents.

4
Coral Reef

• Coral reefs are created by colonies of tiny coral
  animals.
• Coral reefs only form shallow, tropical ocean
  waters.
• Atoll a ringed shaped reef surrounding a lagoon.
• Coral reef animals include octopuses, lobsters,
  shrimp, and fish including Nemo!

5
Kelp Forests

• Kelp large heavy algae that grow in parts of the
  neritic zone.
• Kelp forests grow in cold neritic waters where
  the ocean has a rocky floor.
• Kelp use sunlight and dissolved gases in the
  neritic zone to produce their own food.

• B/C of their size, kelp require the rocky bottom
  of the ocean floor to anchor to and air bladders
  to keep them upright in the water.
• Kelp forest animals young whales, sea otters,
  and sea urchins.

6
Conditions in the Open Ocean

• Open ocean begins at the edge of the continental
  shelf.
• Only a small part of the open ocean receives
  sunlight.
• Dissolved nutrients are less abundant in the open
  ocean.

7
Divisions of the Open Ocean

• Surface Zone only part of the open ocean that
  receives enough sunlight to support the growth of
  algae.
• Transition Zone colder and darker than surface
  zone.

• Deep Zone few organisms live here b/c of cold,
  dark conditions.
• Bioluminescence ability of living things to
  produce their own light.
• Limited food supply causes special adaptations.

8
Hydrothermal Vents

• Hydrothermal Vent area where HOT ocean water
  rises out of cracks in the ocean floor.
• Only deep zone environment that supports a
  variety of ocean life.
• Bacteria at the vents use chemo synthesis to
  produce their own food. (Producers of the vents.)
• Organisms include giant clams, tube worms, and
  crabs.

9
Hydrothermal Vent