Ocean Environments Two Basic Divisions 1 Benthic Zone

Ocean Environments

Two Basic Divisions 1. Benthic Zone – bottom 2. Pelagic Zone - water

Benthic Zones 1. Intertidal – Shallowest area – Between the low and high tide lines – Changing environment

Periwinkle

Fingernail Limpet

Barnacle mating Buckshot Barnacles

Gooseneck Barnacles

Mussel with barnacles on it Mussels Mussel with barnacles on it

Sea Urchin Sea star Sea weed Sea anemones – closed above water, open below water Chiton Seaweed

Benthic Zones • 2. Sublittoral – Always underwater – On continental shelf – Most variety of benthic life

Sponge with brittle star Coral

Benthic Zones 3. Bathyal - starts at continental slope and extends to 4000 m - little or no sunlight - cold 4°C - very high pressure Brittle Stars

Crinoids (Sea Lilies)

Sea cucumbers

Benthic Zones 4. Abyssal - No sunlight - 4000 – 6000 m - On abyssal plain Tube worms

Benthic Zones 5. Hadal • 6000 m -11, 000 m • Trench Foraminifera

Pelagic Zone – water area 1. Neritic § water area above continental shelf 2. Oceanic § water off of continental shelf § further divided into 5 areas based on depth

• Oceanic zone is further divided into 5 areas based on depth

Neritic Zone Life Seahorse Angel fish Clown fish Bluefin Tuna Jellyfish Herring

Plankton

Oceanic Zones 1. Epipelagic • Surface – 200 meters • Sunlight, warm

Oceanic Zones Firefly Squid 2. Mesopelagic • twilight zone - some light but no photosynthesis • 200 – 2000 meters • contains thermocline (large temperature change) • low-energy tissues and sluggish lifestyles to cope with low food energy, since no algae can grow. • Many animals are bioluminescent Cuttlefish

Ogrefish Deep Sea Angler Coelacanth

Giant Siphonophore

Bloodbelly Comb Jelly

Pelagic Zones Giant Squid 4. Bathypelagic zone 2, 000 – 4, 000 meters Vampire Squid

Pelagic Zones Snipe Eel 4. Abyssopelagic zone 4000 – 6000 meters - low oxygen, nutrients and food - Dark and cold - Zoarcid Fish

Resources Anderson, Genny (2002). The splash zone. Retrieved August 5, 2008, from http: //www. biosbcc. net/ocean/flspl. htm#top Allison, M. , De. Gaetano, A. , & Pasachoff, J. (2006). Earth Science. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Deep Sea. Retrieved August 10, 2008, from Monteray Bay Aquarium Online Field Guide Web site: http: //www. mbayaq. org/efc/living_species/default. asp? hab=9 Flach, Author's first name initial. Els, & Heip, Carlo (1996). Vertical distribution of macrozoobenthos within the sediment on the continental slope of the Globan spur area. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 141, 55 -66. Monsters of the Deep Sea. Retrieved August 10, 2008, from Sea and Sky Web site: http: //www. seasky. org/deep-sea/creatures -menu. html Rager, Nicolle (2004). Sea Vent Viewer. Retrieved August 7, 2008, from Natinal Science Foundation Web site: http: //www. nsf. gov/news/overviews/earth-environ/interact 01. jsp Roach, John (2005, Feb. 3). Life Is Found Thriving at Ocean's Deepest Point. Retrieved August 10, 2008, from National Geographic News Web site: http: //news. nationalgeographic. com/news/2005/02/0203_050203_deepest. html Yancey, Paul (2008). Deep Sea Biology. Retrieved August 7, 2008, Web site: http: //people. whitman. edu/~yancey/deepsea. html Viau, Elizabeth A. (2003). The littoral zone. Retrieved August 5, 2008, from World Builders Web site: http: //curriculum. calstatela. edu/courses/builders/lessons/les 5/littoral. html