Marine and coastal ecosystems

Types of Aquatic Ecosytems

1. OVERVIEW OF MARINE AND COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS ANDTHEIR PHYSICO- CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS PRESENTED BY: V.RISHIKA

2. WHAT IS ECOSYSTEM ? A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment( abiotic factors) interacting with each other and functioning together as a unit. An ecosystem is generally made up of plants,animals,microorganisms,soil,water and the local atmosphere interacting with each other.

3. MARINE ECOSYSTEM Marine ecosystem is the largest among the earth’s aquatic ecosystem. As 71% of earths surface is covered by water and oceans occupy 97% of water on earth. Marine ecosystem has a wide habitat and rich diversity of species.

4. Ocean is called as the “life blood of the earth”. 70% of the oxygen human consumes comes from the marine plants in the ocean. Oceans are responsible for removing the CO 2 from atmosphere and producing 0 2 supporting earth life. Marine ecosystem is highly diverse ecosystem.

5. According to NOAA only about 5% of the ocean is explored. 95% of the ocean is completely unexplored. About 2/3 rd of the ocean species are yet to be discovered. Ocean is a home for millions of species and is also responsible for providing life to millions of organisms on the earth.

6. RECENT DISCOVERIES Sea cucumber Mariana snail fish

7. Blob fish Spiny crab ctenophora Hairy crab

8. BASIC NEEDS OF AN ECOSYSTEM CO 2 O 2 Sunlight Nutrients-food and minerals

9. SIGNIFICANCE OF PHYSICO CHEMICAL PARAMETERS ON ECOSYSTEM Physico -chemical parameters influence the species diversity, pattern of diversity,spawning breeding and reproductive activities. Improper balance of these parameters lead to reproductive failures of organisms and poor species diversity. A balanced physical environment is needed for the conservation of our rich marine ecosytem .

10. TYPES OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS Coral reef ecosystem Deep sea Kelp forests Polar seas Open ocean

11. CORAL REEFS A coral polyp is a tubular sac like animal with a central mouth surrounded by tentacles. Base is attached to the substrate.

12. CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures. Coral reefs are believed to have the highest biodiversity than any other ecosystem. The rich biodiversity in oceans is because of corals supporting 33% of the marine life. Coral reefs exhibit symbiotic relationship with unicellular algae zooxanthellae.

13. Moray eel Common octopus ( Octopus vulgaris ) Barracuda ( Sphyraena barracuda )

14. Brittle star Sea pen Serpulid worm ( Serpula columbiana )

15. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON CORAL REEFS : Corals are very sensitive to changes in the temperature. Due to the increase of temperature corals cannot persist zooxanthellae in their tissues and expels them into the water. Without zooxanthellae corals turn white because the algae provides food and required colour by photosynthesis. White unhealthy corals are called bleached corals.

16. CONTD: Bleached corals are weak , have reduced growth rates,decreased reproductive activity and susceptible to diseases. Coral bleaching effects the complete marine ecosystem and biodiversity. Decline in genetic and species diversity occurs due to bleaching.

17. BLEACHED CORAL S DEAD CORALS

18. EFFECT OF CARBON DIOXIDE Most of the CO 2 that enters into the atmosphere by human activities and burning of fossil fuels dissolves in the ocean. As carbon dioxide in the oceans increases P H decreases ad the water becomes more acidic. Due to ocean acidification corals cannot absorb calcium carbonate into their tissues and the corals become softy and destroyed.

19. Deep sea ecosystem The deep sea floor represents the largest habitat on earth. It ranges from the edge of the continental shelf at 200m to the bottom of the ocean. The deep sea zone is no light zone or aphotic zone. Extreme pressure Cold water Goblin shark

20. CHARACTERISTICS OF DEEP SEA ECOSYSTEM The temperature of the waters of the deep sea varies from 4°C to -1°C. The lowest temperatures are found in the Antarctic Ocean and are about -1.9°C. The most predictable physical variable is hydrostatic pressure. For 10m increase in depth the pressure increases by 1atm.

21. On the deep-sea floor, many mounds and depressions are formed by benthic animals such as worms, molluscs , crustaceans, starfish, brittlestars , shrimps, fishes, sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Because the deep-sea floor is poor in food resources, it cannot support large populations of big animals. For this reason, many animals adopt a “sit and wait” strategy. This strategy means that the animals stay at one place and wait until food falls down on them or carried to them in the currents.

22. BIOTIC FEATURES The organisms commonly found on deep sea are angler fish,jelly fish,squid,octopus and giant clams. The organisms present in the deep sea communicate by bioluminiscence and fluoroscence .

23. Deep-sea bottom with fish Gorgonian feeding on basket star Squid with many light organs Jelly fish

24. Foraminifera Radiolaria Isopod  Nematode Polychaete worm

25. KELP FORESTS Kelp forests are large brown algae that live in cool, shallow waters close to the shore. Kelp can grow 20 inches per day. These underwater kelps provide food and shelter for thousands of fish, Invertebrates and marine mammal species. They generally occur in cool nutrient rich waters.

26. OPEN OCEAN These are the areas of water that are not near shore. The open ocean is offshore beyond the continental shelf and tidal influence. Ocean water is clear moving water because of winds and major ocean currents. Characterised by presence of large schools of fishes, mammals, whales and sharks.

27. POLAR SEA Despite the harsh whether and ice cover, polar seas are teeming with life. Cold water and little sunlight during few periods of the year. Dominated by ice, snow and cold temperatures. Animals such as polar bears, beluga whales,krill,seals and penguins are present.

28. COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS Coastal ecosystems are areas where land and water join to create an environment with a distinct structure, diversity and flow of energy. Coastal ecosystems support 1/3 rd of world population.

29. TYPES OF COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS Mangroves Sandy shore Rocky shore Barrier islands Estuaries

30. MANGROVES? Mangroves are shrubs and trees that grow in saline coastal habitats in the tropics and subtropics. They grow in loose, wet soils, salt water and are periodically submerged by tidal flows. Their distribution is affected by climate,salinity of water, fluctuation of tides and type of soil. They are unique ecosystems generally found along sheltered coasts.

31. IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES They are the buffer zone between land and sea. They provide food,nesting and nursery areas for many animals which include atleast 200 fish species,20 reptiles and amphibian species,15 mammal species and over 150 bird species. Protects the soil from erosion. Purify the water by absorbing nutrients and harmful heavy metals.

32. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS OF MANGROVES PH: Neutral or slightly acidic due to the sulfur reducing bacteria and the presence of acidic silt. Oxygen: Dissolved oxygen is low. Mangroves are home for anaerobic bacteria which releases hydrogen sulfide gas when the bacteria utilise organic matter without oxygen.

33. NUTRIENTS: As the mangrove soil is perpetually waterlogged, there is a little free oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria liberate nitrogen gas,soluble iron,inorganic phosphates and methane which makes the soil less nutritious. SALINITY: They grow in water having higher salinities. To tolerate the salinities the plants having some special modifications.

34. ADAPTATIONS TO SALINITY WAXY LEAVES: Leaf have coated with waxy cuticle on the outer side that prevents water loss.

35. SALT EXCLUSION AT LEAVES: Mangroves have ability to exclude salt at the surface of their leaves. In this way the salt content in the plant is regulated.

36. PNEMATOPHORES: These are the breathing roots from underground root system, which appear laterally. These roots are used for respiration of the plant .

37. MODIFICATION OF ANIMALS: MUDSKIPPER: This fish has modified fins which helps to move on the land. It breathes through the damp skin and by holding water in its mouth. Huge eyes on top of it to see better,allowing it to hunt for prey and escape from predators.

38. TREE CLIMBING CRABS During high tide the tree climbing crab climbs up a tree to avoid being eaten by predatory fish. Once out of the water it shows some behavioural patterns to avoid predation.

39. EFFECT OF SEA RISE LEVEL ON MANGROVES Rise of sea level leads to threats to mangroves. Leads to increased erosion ,salinity and mangrove inundation. Forces mangroves to migrate landwards . CHANGES IN SALINITY AND PRECIPITATION 90% of the mangrove degradation occurs due to high salinity ,high temperature and low precipitation. Reduced fresh water flow affects the growth and survival of mangroves.

40. SANDY SHORE

41. Sandy shores or beaches are loose deposits of sand, gravel or shells that cover the shoreline in many places. Sandy shores have soft bottoms and they are unstable and shift in response to waves, tides and currents. so organisms do not have solid places to attach. Beaches serve as buffer zones or shock absorbers that protect the coastline, sea cliffs or dunes from direct wave attack. It is an extremely dynamic environment where sand, water and air are always in motion.

42. Sandy beaches are soft shores that are formed by deposition of particles that have been carried by water currents from other areas.  The two main types of beach material are quartz (=silica) sands of terrestrial origin and carbonate sands of marine origin. The carbonate sand is weathered from mollusc shells and skeletons.

43. Sandy beaches generally seems lifeless when compared to other ecosystems, however they have a surprising amount of biodiversity. The sandy shore has low diversity but greater abundance. Animals in sandy beach ecosystem need to adopt to constantly changing environment. They need to deal with tides, wave action and water currents, which all may sweep marine animals off the beach,and also move sand and rock to different locations.

44. ADAPTATIONS TO FLUCTUATING ENVIRONMENT Marine life in a sandy beach ecosystem may burrow in the sand to prevent wash away by the waves. They need to move quickly out of reach of the waves.

45. Several groups of vertebrates make use of sandy beaches for foraging, nesting and breeding. Turtles nest on the backshore of sandy beaches. Birds use the beach for foraging, nesting and roosting. Seals use several areas of the beach for nesting, molting , breeding and raising pups. Other terrestrial animals such as otters, baboons, raccoons, lions,… They descend onto the beach to forage. LIFE ON SANDY SHORE

46. Prickly pear cactus Beach mouse Sea oats

47. Tubeworm  Lanice   conchilega Amphipod  Onisimus edwardsi Bivalves

48. SIGNIFICANCE Beaches are widely used for recreational activities. They are significant for their natural beauty,heritage,and education.

49. ROCKY SHORE

50. Rocky shore is an intertidal zone of water between high tide and low tide. To live on a rocky shore organisms must have the following adaptations that allow them to prevent : Removal from the substrate by waves( e.g.byssus threads in mussels,hold fast in algae. Physical damage from waves(limpets have thick,low profile shells and digs pits in the rocks). Dessication (run and hide or clam up). Temperature extreme fatality Salinity extreme fatality

51. A rocky shore is an intertidal area that consists of solid rocks. Characterized by biologically different habitats - steep rocky cliffs, platforms, rock pools and boulder fields. Erosion is a common feature due to continuous action of the tides. Organisms must be able to tolerate extreme changes in temperature, salinity, moisture and wave action to survive daily fluctuations in their environment.

52. LIFE ON ROCKY SHORE Marine algae Birds Invertebrates such as crabs,lobsters,sea stars,urchins,mussels,sea squirts and sea anemones. Fish Seals and sea lions.

53. SIGNIFICANCE

54. BARRIER ISLANDS

55. BARRIER ISLANDS Barrier islands are coastal landforms. A type of dune system that are exceptionally flat or lumpy areas of sand that form by wave and tidal action parallel to the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen. They are separated from the main land by a shallow sound, bay, or lagoon and are often found in chains along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico

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