1. Marine Environments 2014

2. A. Intertidal zones- between high and low tide 1
A. Intertidal zones- between high and low tide 1. marked by strandline(seaweed and debris deposited on beach at high tide) 2. organisms must be adapted to alternating periods of wet and dry. B. Supratidal zone- above intertidal up to dunes 1. salt spray limits plant growth 2. terrestrial animals and birds c. Subtidal zone- below low tide line. 1. heavy wave impact and high turbulence 2. marine life has adaptations to help cling to surfaces
I. Marine Life Zones

3. Methods of attachment
Encrusting sponges

4. Tube feet used by seastars

5. Snails and mollusks cling using muscular foot

6. Mussels attach using byssal threads

7. Barnacles secrete cement

8. Kelp and rockweed have holdfasts

9. Flattened bodies- flounder and sand dollar

10. Pelagic zone-covers entire ocean of water above the sea bottom
1. Neritic zone-fewer than 200 m in depth above continental shelf
2. Oceanic zone- open ocean
Where most commercial fishing takes place
Very productive because of river runoff which provides nutrients
Photic zone- light penetrates and supports life
Disphotic zone- small amounts of light penetrate
Aphotic zone- no light. Deep sea animals adapted to high pressure and no light. Includes ocean basin.
Ex. Deep sea fish, worms, crustaceans

11. Sandy Beach environment- composed of sand(loose sediments easily shifted by wind and wave action).
A. Upper Zone
1. zone with most temperature change.
a. desiccation(drying out) in summer
b. freezing in winter
2. limited times of water inundation means limited MARINE food sources.

12. fauna- mostly scavengers(amphipods, insects and oligochaetes)
fauna- mostly scavengers(amphipods, insects and oligochaetes). Nocturnal to avoid desiccation and predation.
a. amphipods(sand fleas)- crustaceans that crawl or hop along sand. Use gills that act similar to lungs, must stay moist but will drown if completely submerged. Can burrow up to 3 feet. Predators include shorebirds, beetles and occasional fox, raccoons etc.
b. beetles and flies
c. oligochaetes (segmented worms)

13. B. Mid zone- area before upper zone. 1
B. Mid zone- area before upper zone Moderate inundation times so still experiences temperature issues.
2. Increased wave action causes rapid sediment removal and therefore requires highly mobile fauna.
3. Fauna- isopods which are carnivorous scavengers. Will burrow approx. 1 cm near the low tide line and forage when tide comes in. Predators are mainly shorebirds.

14. C. Surf Zone- regions of crashing waves
Constantly moving water, sand is moved by wave action.
Fauna- most be adapted to land, sea and wave action.
a. mole crab- paddle-like appendages (swimming), smooth, flattened body
b. surf clam- thick shell to resist wave action and muscular foot allows for digging (avoid predation)

15. II. Rocky Coast Environment- shores made of solid rock, rocks provide substrate for plants and animals
Zones- Upper intertidal (splash zone)
1.large amounts of blue- green algae
2. dominant fauna- periwinkle snails to feed on algae
3. main predators are shore birds
B. Mid-Intertidal zone
a. dominant fauna – barnacles, whelk, mussels and sea stars
b. barnacles are filter feeders when covered with water, overlapping plates close when not covered with water to prevent desiccation.
c. dog whelk feed on barnacles(drill though plates)
d. Mussels
e. Sea stars are predators

16. C. Lower Intertidal Zone- region dominated by sea weed.
1. red seaweed (Irish moss) common
2. tide pools- many types of algae, small invertebrates and fish
D. Subtidal zone-below low tide line.
1. sea urchins common, eats holdfast of kelp
2. sea stars move in with tide and feed on mussels

18. III. Estuary- brackish water found at the mouth of a river, where it enters the ocean.
A. Very productive region
1. called “nature’s nursery”- many organisms lay eggs and young develop in nutrient rich waters.
2. formed by melting ice flooding the mouths of rivers.
3. found on the bay side of a barrier beach where calmer waters are found

19. Salt Marsh Community- (wetlands)
1. dominant species- marsh grasses
a. cord grass (Spartina)- resistant to salt, can secrete salt crystals.
b. when the grasses die, provide nutrients
c. Phosphates and nitrates used by plankton and plankton are filtered by larger animals
d. other animals include fiddler crabs, hermit crabs and fish

20. C. Mud Flat Community
1. dark, muddy sand with no grasses
a. very little aeration and minimal flushing action
nature’s graveyards
high amounts of decomposition by bacteria
Rotten egg smell from hydrogen sulfide H2S
Invertebrates scavenge for food- mud snails, sandworms and clams

21. Mangrove Community-found in tropical and subtropical regions.
1. trees are adapted to salt water. Low wave action and large exposed roots act as a nursery area for organisms lower in the food chain and protect shore from erosion.
2. dominant species- red mangrove trees
3. wildlife sanctuary- home to raccoons, snails, oysters, crabs, conchs, pelican and osprey

22. E. Coral Reef Environment
1. stony formation built by coral polyp.
2. made of calcium carbonate CaCO3.
3. symbiotic algae-zooxanthellae which give coral its color
a. live inside coral polyp
4. coral features
a. found btwn 30°N and 30°S
b. longest reef- Great Barrier Reef
c. hard coral- elkhorn ,staghorn and brain
d. Soft coral- sea fans, sea whips
e. very fragile ecosystem

23. Reef inhabitants
1. Butterfly fish-snout able to get prey in small crevices
2. Parrotfish- eats coral polyps and grinds the skeleton to sand
3. many able to hide in small crevices
4. colorful coral – many fish camouflaged to blend in