This document provides an overview of marine ecology and ocean zones. It begins by outlining the objectives and essential question regarding marine ecology and ocean zonation. It then defines marine ecology as the study of biotic and abiotic interactions in marine ecosystems. The document proceeds to describe the five oceans on Earth and the key features of marine ecology, including the vastness and salinity of the ocean. It also outlines the horizontal zones of the ocean including the intertidal, neretic and oceanic zones. Finally, it details the vertical zonation of ocean life based on depth and light availability.

1. The Great Blue Sea

2. By the end of this unit you will be able to…
• Describe the basics of marine ecology
• Identify/label the horizontal and vertical zones of the ocean
• Describe various marine organisms’ adaptations
• Create a marine ecosystem that would live off the coast of Oregon
• Describe how global climate change is affecting our oceans
• ACE YOUR FINAL!!

3. Objective for this unit:
• I can identify biotic and abiotic factors of marine ecosystems and
describe how they interact with one another.

4. Essential Question:
• What is marine ecology and how is the ocean divided up into
different zones?

5. How many oceans are on Earth?
Talk to your neighbor.
How many can you name?

6. There are 5!
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Southern Ocean It’s not the Antarctic Ocean now!

7. What is marine ecology?

8. It is an interactive science that studies the basic
structural and functional relationships within and
among living populations and their physical-chemical
environments in marine ecosystems.
AKA- the study of biotic and abiotic interactions in
marine ecosystems.

9.  Estuaries
Subtopics:
• Ecological features of the sea Ecological features of the sea
 Zonation
 Mangroves and Coral Reefs
 Marine Biota and Communities

10. Features of Marine
Ecology

11. Features of Marine Ecology
1. The sea is big – it covers 70% of the Earth’s
surface.
2. The sea is deep and life extends to all its
depths
- Although apparently there are no abiotic zones
in the ocean, life is much denser around the
margin of continents and islands.

12. 3. The sea is continuous, not separated as our land and
fresh water habitats.
4. The sea is in continuous circulation- air temperature
differences between poles and equator set up strong
winds such as the trade winds (blowing steadily in the
same direction the year around) which, together with
rotation of the Earth, creat
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Ocean_flows_at_surface_and_2000_meters_below_sea_level.webme different currents
Features of Marine Ecology

13. 2 types of water movement that
contributes to coastal fertility
 Upwelling- bringing to the surface cold water rich in
nutrients which have been accumulating in the
depths.
-The most productive marine
area is located in this region.
 Out-welling-occurs when nutrient-rich estuarine
water moves out to sea.

14. 5. The sea is dominated by waves of many kind
and by tides produced by the pull of moon and
sun.

15. 6. The sea is salty- the average salinity or salt
contents is 35 parts of salts by weight per 1000
parts of water, or 3.5%.
 Sea water has the pH of 8.2
Is that basic, neutral, or acidic?

16. 7. The concentration of dissolved nutrients is
low and constitutes an important limiting
factor in determining the size of marine
population.

17. 8. The ocean floor is constantly
altered and renewed by tectonic
and sedimentary processes.
- the sea floor is slowly spreading
outward from mid-ocean ridges,
pushing continents apart as it
progresses.
Example: continental drift

18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmMlspNoZMs

19. The Marine Biota

20. What is Marine Biota?

21. Biota
 The combined flora and fauna of a region.
 The animal or plant life of a particular region.
Plants!
Animals!

22. Examples of Marine Biota in the Pacific Ocean
Zooplankton
Phytoplankton
Cuttlefish
Medusa Jellyfish California Sea Lion
Brown Pelican
Gray Whale
Chinook Salmon

23. Example
of Marine
Food
Web and
Food
Chain

24. Zonation in the
Sea

25. What is zonation ?

26. Zonation is a bit of biological terminology
that refers to the way an ecosystem can be
divided up into zones based on a particular
factor, such as altitude or latitude.
Think about the tidal zones we just studied.
Zonation

27. Marine Environments

28. Life Zones in the Ocean
I. Horizontal zones
- Those extending from the sea.

29. A.Intertidal (Littoral) Zone:
• region in which tides expose the sea bottom
for some part of each day.
• The habitats are alternately submerged under
salt water and waterlogged for hours and then
exposed to the air and dried out for hours.

30. B. Pelagic Zone:
• located seaward of the coastal zone’s low-tide
mark, this contains the vast open waters of the
ocean. Two subdivisions are recognized:
• Neretic
• Oceanic

31. b. Oceanic Zone
• the region of the sea extending to the edge of the
continental shelf, over the continental slope, and over
ocean floor.
• It is characterized by darkness and tremendous
pressure. Vertical line zones are significant here.
a. Neretic Zone
• the water underlying the continental shelf. With the
exemption of Antarctica, these waters usually extend
to a depth of 200 m (600 ft). Sunlight penetrates the
entire water column.

32. Pelagic ZoneIntertidal

33. https://youtu.be/9RhX3lRJQMg

34. Life Zones in the Ocean
II. Vertical line zones of the oceanic zone
Defined by:
• How much light it receives
• Depth
• Amount of pressure

35. A. Neustic zone:
• the thin film or “skin” formed by surface tension at
the surface of the water.
B. Epipelagic (The Sunlight Zone)
• Light Availability: the top of the water column as
far down as light is available for photosynthesis.
• Depth: 0-200 m
• 90% of life lives here due to the availability of light!
• Biotic Ex: Plankton, floating seaweed, jellyfish,
tuna, sharks, and dolphins

36. C. Mesopelagic Zone (Twilight Zone)
• Light: Very dark
• Depth: 200-1000m
• Many organisms here are bioluminescent
• Biotic Ex. Heterotrophic bacteria, swordfish,
squid, and some cuttlefish
D. Bathypelagic Zone (Midnight Zone):
• Light: Pitch black (NO PLANTS)
• Depth: 1000-4000m
• Most animals here survive on detritus (“marine
snow”
• Biotic ex. Anglerfish, giant squid, dumbo octopus
• Giant squid hunted here by diving sperm whales

37. E. Abyssopelagic Zone (The Abyss)
• Light/ Pressure: No light, cold temps, high
pressure and complete darkness not a lot of
organisms
• Depth: 4000 (13,000ft) -6000m or ocean floor
• Makes up 90% of the ocean
• Biotic ex: squid, basket star, swimming cucumber,
sea pig, sea spider
F. Hadal Zone (the trenches)
• Light: None
• Depth: 6000m +
• Biota: Organisms live in hydrothermal vents here
(extremophiles)

38.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTw8MR67xv8&feature=youtu.be

39. III. Benthic Zone
This zone contains all the habitats of the sea
bottom, whether in coastal, continental shelf,
or deep sea environments. Organisms may live
within the bottom material or on its surface.
Life Zones in the Ocean

40. III. Benthic Zone

42.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69LIr0OrNc&t=1s

44. Quiz Yo Self!
Use your white board to write your
answers.
DON’T SHOW YOUR NEIGHBOR!! THIS
IS AN INDIVIDUAL QUIZ!
Use your notes!

45. Write down the 5 oceans of Earth

46. Write down the 5 oceans of Earth
Check yo self!
1.Artic
2.Pacific
3.Indian
4.Atlantic
5.Southern

47. How salty is the ocean?
A. 45%
B. 100%
C. 3.5%
D. 20%

48. How salty is the ocean?
A. 45%
B. 100%
C. 3.5%
D. 20%

49. The sea covers how much of the Earth’s
surface?
A. 20%
B. 40%
C. 60%
D. 70%

50. The sea covers how much of the Earth’s
surface?
A. 20%
B. 40%
C. 60%
D. 70%

51. What are two types of water movement
that circulates nutrients in the ocean?
Write it down!

52. What are two types of water movement
that circulates nutrients in the ocean?
 Up-welling- Brings nutrients from the
bottom of the ocean to the surface
 Out-welling- Brings nutrients into the ocean
from estuaries

53. What are the two pelagic (horizontal)
zones?
Write them down!

54. What are the two pelagic (horizontal)
zones?
 Neretic- Water under the continental shelf
 Oceanic- Water past the continental shelf
and beyond

55. What are the 6 vertical zones of life in
the ocean?
 Write them down!

56. What are the 6 vertical zones of life in
the ocean?
 Share with your neighbor- did you get them
right?
 Challenge- Write their depth!

57. What are the 6 vertical zones of life in
the ocean?
 Neustic- Thin film on the top of the water
 Epipelagic-
 Mesopelagic-
 Bathypelagic-
 Abyssopelagic-
 Hadal-

58. What is the bottom of the ocean
floor called?
A. Neustic
B. Neretic
C. Benthic
D. Oceanic

59. What is the bottom of the ocean
floor called?
A. Neustic
B. Neretic
C. Benthic
D. Oceanic

60. Draw a picture of an example of
marine biota.
What does biota even mean??

61. YOU DID IT!

62. Mangrove and Coral
Reefs

63.  Emergent land plants that tolerate the
salinities of the open sea.
Mangrove and Coral Reefs

64.  This ecosystem traps and cycles various
organic materials, chemical elements, and
important nutrients. Mangrove roots act not
only as physical traps but provide attachment
surfaces for various marine organisms.
 Many of them attached to organisms filter
water through their bodies and, in turn, trap
and cycle nutrients.

65. It provides:
- Protection
- Food
- Shelter
- Extension coast
- Building islands
- Major energy input into fisheries

66.  Florida’s mangroves are tropical species;
therefore, they are sensitive to extreme
temperature fluctuations as well as
subfreezing temperatures.
 Research indicates that salinity, water
temperature, tidal fluctuations, and soil also
affect their growth and distribution.

67.  Coral Reefs
- Widely distributed in swallow waters of
warm seas.
- Among the most biologically productive,
taxonomically diverse and aesthetically
celebrated of all communities.

68.  Three types of Reef according to Darwin
a.Barrier reefs along continents
b.Fringing reefs around islands
c.Atolls, which are horseshoe-shaped ridges of
reefs and islands with lagoon in the center.

69.  In certain conditions coral reefs develop far
from the continents, around small islands, or
towards the edge of the continental shelf.
 Here the reefs do not join up to the mainland,
but grow upwards on all sides. Large, elongated
structures far offshores are called barrier
reefs. They are separated from the land by a
lagoon. When barrier reefs grow up in remote
ocean areas, they are termed bank reefs.

70. Mooréa Fringing Reef
A fringing reef is a type of coral reef that
extends outward from the shore of an island
or mainland, with no body of water separating
land reef. The fringing reef pictured here
surrounds much of the Polynesian island of
Mooréa.

71.  By submarine volcanic activity
- Pacific reef developed into basaltic rock.
 Biological deposition of calcium carbonate
is the means by which the reef builds up
to sea level.

72. I.DEFINITION AND TYPES
ESTUARY

73. ESTUARY
 Semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has
a free connection with the open sea
 Strongly affected by tidal action
 Within it sea water mixed with fresh water
 Estuarine or blackish water is classified as
oligomeso or polyhaline according to average
salinity

74.  Physical condition in estuaries are stressful
with low species diversity
 The food conditions are also favorable that
the region is packed with life
 It belongs to the important class of
“fluctuating water-level ecosystems”

75. CLASSIFICATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED
BASED ON:
a) GEOMORPHOLOGY
b) WATER CIRCULATION AND
STRATIFICATION
c) SYSTEMS ENERGETICS

76. According to GEOMORPHOLOGY
1. DROWNED RIVER VALLEYS
are developed along coastlines with
relatively low and wide coastal plain
2. FJORD-TYPE ESTUARIES
are deep U-shaped coastal indentures
gouged out by glaciers and generally with a
shallow sill at their mouths formed by terminal
glacial deposits.

77. 3. BAR-BUILT ESTUARIES
are shallow basins, often partly exposed at
low tide, enclosed by a chain of offshore bars
or barrier islands, broken at intervals by inlets.
4. ESTUARIES PRODUCED BY TECTONIC
PROCESSES
are coastal indentures formed by
geological faulting or by local subsidence often
with large inflow of fresh water.

78. RIVER DELTA ESTUARIES
 Found at the mouths of large rivers such as
the Mississippi or the Nile.
 Semi-enclosed bays, channels, and brackish
marshes are formed by shifting silt
deposits.

79. 1. Highly stratified or “salt-edge” estuaries.
The river water is more dominant over tidal
actions. This will exhibit a salinity profile with a
“halocline” or zone of sharp change in salinity
from top to bottom.
CIRCULATION AND STRATIFICATION

80. 2. The partially mixed or moderately
stratified estuary.
Fresh water and tidal inflow are more nearly
equal. Turbulence is the dominant mixing
agent. This create a complex pattern of layers
and water masses.
CIRCULATION AND STRATIFICATION

81. 3. The completely mixed or vertically
homogenous estuary.
Tidal action is strongly dominant and
vigorous. The water tends to be well mixed
from top to bottom and the salinity relatively
high.
CIRCULATION AND STRATIFICATION

82. HYPERSALINE ESTUARY
 Flow of fresh water is small, the tidal
amplitude low, and the evaporation is very
high. Salinity may rise above that of the
ocean.

83. ECOSYSTEM ENERGETICS
1. Physically stressed systems of wide
latitudinal range.
Subjected to high energy breaking waves,
strong tidal currents, severe temperature or
salinity rocks, low nighttime oxygen, or high rates
of sedimentation.

84. 2. Natural arctic ecosystems with ice stress.
Exemplified by glacial fjords, winters ice
stressed intertidal zones and under—ice
communities on arctic coast.
ECOSYSTEM ENERGETICS

85. 3. Natural temperate coastal ecosystems with
seasonal programming.
The more subdued tides, waves and currents
in the semi-enclosed basins provide energy
subsidies rather than stresses.
ECOSYSTEM ENERGETICS

86. 4. Natural tropical coastal ecosystems of high
diversity.
Temperature, salinity, and other physical
factor stresses are low so that much energy of
special adaptation can go into diversity rather
than into “anti-thermal maintenance”
ECOSYSTEM ENERGETICS

87. 5. Emerging new systems associated with
man.
These are ecosystems developed for
adaptation for man-made wastes.
ECOSYSTEM ENERGETICS

88.  Biota of hypersaline estuaries is of marine
origin.
 Seafood population are observable in
estuaries.
 Estuaries are used as nursery grounds because
of protection and abundant of food.
II. BIOTA AND PRODUCTIVITY

89. Intertidal and adjacent shallow-water zones
--- most productive and most important part
of the estuaries.
 Estuaries are more productive than either
the sea on one-side or the freshwater
drainage on the other.