Ecology, Chapter 7 Section 2

Front 1

Marine Ecosystems

Back 1

* are ecosystem that contain salt water
* found around the world's oceans.
* coastal areas, the water level and salinity usually during the day.

Front 2

Coastal Wetlands

Back 2

*coastal land areas that are covered by salt water for all or part of the time
*provide habitat and nesting areas for many fish and wildlife.
*absorb the rain, protects the area from flooding and filters pollutants and sediments, and provide recreational areas for boating and fishing and hunting.

Front 3

Estuaries

Back 3

*an area of fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean.
*the two bodies meet, currents form and cause mineral rich mud and nutrients are deposited.

Front 4

Estuaries
(continued)

Back 4

*productive ecosystems because of the new deposited nutrients received.
*support many animals because of the sunlight and nutrients

Front 5

Threats to Estuaries

Back 5

*landfills and development.

Front 6

Largest Estuary

Back 6

*Chesapeake Bay

Front 7

Salt Marshes

Back 7

*act like a "nursery"
*absorb pollution and protect inland area

Front 8

Mangrove Swamps

Back 8

*found in tropical and subtropical zones.
*protects the coastline from erosion and reduce the damage from storms.
*provide a havitat for 2,000species
*have been filled with waste or used for development projects in many parts of the world.

Front 9

Rocky and Sandy Shores

Back 9

*rocky shores have many more plant and animal species than sandy shores
examples: mussels & sponges
*animals have adapted to the effects of drying and exposure at low tide.

Front 10

Barrier Islands

Back 10

*protect the mainland and the coastal wetlands from storms and ocean waves.

Front 11

Coral Reefs

Back 11

*are limestone ridges built by tiny coral animals called coral polyps
*coral polyps secrete skeletons of limestone
*outer layer contains living corals.
*capture animals that swim or float near the reef.

Front 12

Coral Reefs in Danger

Back 12

*fragile ecosystems
*coral bleaching caused from too hot or too cold, high in nutrients

Front 13

Oceans

Back 13

*sunlight penetrates 330ft.
*oceans life is concentrated in the shallow, coastal waters.

Front 14

Plants and animals of the ocean

Back 14

*phytoplankton grow only where there is enough light and nutrients.
*open ocean is one of the least productive of all ecosystems.
*zooplankton is the smallest herbivores, include jellyfish, shrimp and larvae of fish.
*depth of the ocean are dark, most food at the ocean floor consists of dead organisms, decomposers, and filter feeders.

Front 15

Threats to the Ocean

Back 15

*becoming more polluted
*wasts from cities and industries, fertilizers, sewage and runn off.

Front 16

Arctic and Antarctic Ecosystems

Back 16

*at the north and south poles
*arctic ocean is rich in nutrients from the surrounding land masses.
*Antarctic is the only continent never colonized by humans