Renowned American author H. P. Lovecraft once wrote, “Blue, green, grey, white, or black; smooth, ruffled, or mountainous; that ocean is not silent”. Presently, the earth is estimated to be around 70% water, yet humanity has only explored less than 5% of the oceans. Imagine what we could learn from the unknowns of the most treacherous depths, and to what possibilities could we utilize all the information gathered? One anomaly quite intriguing is the diverse sea-life, which proceeds to prosper by adopting unorthodox countermeasures deemed necessary for their species’ survival. Stephen Palumbi & Anthony Palumbi’s novel, “The Extreme Life of the Sea” is about a father and son duo who explore the earliest, most archaic, the smallest, the deepest,
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The authors’ write, “The farther you live from water, the more dangerous your environment is, and the closer you live to it, the more dangerous your neighbors are” (Palumbi 123). Indefinitely, it is not an easy life for the organisms that exist surrounding and within tidal zones. Species in the splash zone and higher intertidal zone such as Cyanobacteria, Snails, Lichens, Algae, and Barnacles live farthest from the ocean because otherwise their fragile physiques would become immobilized due to the vast weight of rippling oceanic waves. Harsh environmental conditions on both levels make living stressful due to the decreased amount of moisture and scorching hot temperatures. Closer to the sea in the middle intertidal, lower intertidal, and subtidal zone, organisms are immersed making sea predation extremely common. The species that populate these zones are not prepared to adapt to dry temperatures and are often left inept when exposed to dry climates. After reading chapter five, the reader can envision the diverse marine organisms attempt to attain ecological niches considered necessary for their species’ …show more content…
The father and son duo state, “The drag of water makes both speed and distance a challenge in the marathon of the ocean” (Palumbi 158). Without speed and distance certain marine species’ would not be able to catch their prey nor escape their predators. A few animals that are equipped with speed and endurance are the Sail fish, Flying fish, Crayfish, Squids, Dolphins, and Humpback whales. Speed and endurance have always been an important aspect both being associated with being better and stronger. Take horse racing for example, nobody bets on a horse that they assume is slow. The Palumbi’s certainly focus on the extremes of the sea, so naturally the fastest and longest traveling creatures are always of heightened interest. The authors provide substantial knowledge of these creatures, and flabbergast the reader with facts regarding the species listed
The authors’ write, “The farther you live from water, the more dangerous your environment is, and the closer you live to it, the more dangerous your neighbors are” (Palumbi 123). Indefinitely, it is not an easy life for the organisms that exist surrounding and within tidal zones. Species in the splash zone and higher intertidal zone such as Cyanobacteria, Snails, Lichens, Algae, and Barnacles live farthest from the ocean because otherwise their fragile physiques would become immobilized due to the vast weight of rippling oceanic waves. Harsh environmental conditions on both levels make living stressful due to the decreased amount of moisture and scorching hot temperatures. Closer to the sea in the middle intertidal, lower intertidal, and subtidal zone, organisms are immersed making sea predation extremely common. The species that populate these zones are not prepared to adapt to dry temperatures and are often left inept when exposed to dry climates. After reading chapter five, the reader can envision the diverse marine organisms attempt to attain ecological niches considered necessary for their species’ …show more content…
The father and son duo state, “The drag of water makes both speed and distance a challenge in the marathon of the ocean” (Palumbi 158). Without speed and distance certain marine species’ would not be able to catch their prey nor escape their predators. A few animals that are equipped with speed and endurance are the Sail fish, Flying fish, Crayfish, Squids, Dolphins, and Humpback whales. Speed and endurance have always been an important aspect both being associated with being better and stronger. Take horse racing for example, nobody bets on a horse that they assume is slow. The Palumbi’s certainly focus on the extremes of the sea, so naturally the fastest and longest traveling creatures are always of heightened interest. The authors provide substantial knowledge of these creatures, and flabbergast the reader with facts regarding the species listed