Benthos

Bottom trawling is a high-efficiency fishing technique in global coastal fisheries [1], but with negative effects on marine benthos [2]. Bottom trawling affects seabed environments by dragging a net on the seabed and suspending sediments [3]. In addition, this fishing activity threatens marine benthic biodiversity and destroys the structures of benthic ecosystems [4]. Fishers have been concerned with these impacts for 600 years [5]. Over the past half century, the impacts of bottom trawling have come to the forefront for scientists and governments [5,6]. To reduce the negative effects on benthic ecosystems from bottom trawling, the European Union has used a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to monitor the activities of all vessels greater than…

An example of this, according to Raven, Berg and Hassenzahl, is “an organism in an environment” (43). Phytoplankton, Zooplankton and Benthos are all living or biotic organisms this study examined in the starch factory stream. Phytoplankton are, according to Raven, Berg and Hassenzahl, “free-floating photosynthetic algae and cyanobacteria that form the base of most aquatic food webs” (124). Phytoplankton is green when examined in a microscope while zooplankton is not. Zooplankton are defined as…

the coastal waters are warm, brackish, poorly flushed waters and high levels of nutrients. Plant Species: Phytoplankton or better known as Algae are known as a group of organisms. Algae can best be described as small or microscopic plants. This organism is photosynthetic which means they function as plants, producing their own food from sunlight. Seagrass beds are an important part of the coastal biodiversity. The jack-in-the-pulpit can be found across the Chesapeake Bay watershed, growing…

Furthermore, fisheries are noticing declines in the abundance and variety of the fish and invertebrates that are harvested. This is not only due to overexploitation but also physical and ecological damage to the fishery environment (NOAA, 1998). In fact, fisheries or the commercial harvesting of fish and shellfish is by far the most destructive force in the oceans today. The environmental impact of which may vary from being “easily reversible, difficult to reverse or irreversible” (FAO, 2015).…

Today in Mr. Andersons class we talked about the Ocean Floor, the students learned that it took us many years to study the Ocean floor because of its deepness. Once Sonar was developed we were able to study the ocean floor, in class students took the time to watch a video about the subject. The video also mentioned that we know more about the moon and space than we know about the ocean floor because we have not explored it. During this time Mr. Anderson also emphasized on things from the video…

contributes to these figures more than animal biomass. Based on chlorophyll levels from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the most biologically productive regions with autotrophic plants are low-latitude tropical forests and swamps, coral reefs, and algal beds (Thrän et al., 2010). The inclusion of microscopic archea, bacteria, and protist-level eukaryotes, however, substantially boosts numerical figures of Terran biomass and productivity. For example, the estimated global…

flow, but are usually not as shallow as riffles and white-capping is also not predominant. This area of the stream is home to organisms which need water with higher oxygen content, but can’t handle the velocity found within a riffle. Pools follow runs and their name describes them perfectly. Pools are deep areas of the stream with low flow levels. They are also usually the most oxygen depleted area of the stream since not much atmospheric diffusion is occurring here. Pools are used by aquatic…

not contribute to the poor state of wild salmon fishing and conservation. However, the mismanagement in the salmon capture and destruction of habitat contributes to wide-scale depletion of both Pacific and Atlantic salmon. Contamination Ideal salmon farming is located in marine ecosystems served by sufficient and high water quality, exchange rate, and fast currents to prevent pollution at the sea bottom. The sea cages should be deep enough and therefore prevent damage during heavy storms. The…

reefs decline, so do a wide range of populations and species. Although carbon dioxide levels are naturally increasing in the oceans, studies are being done on the idea of taking CO2 from the atmosphere and actually pumping it into the deep ocean for disposal. In one report Environmental Impacts of Ocean Disposal of CO2 (Herzog and Adams, 1994) they surmise that the most important consequence would be the acidification of the water around the release point. As part of their observations, they…

As the ice is breaking up progressively earlier each spring, there is less time to hunt for seals. This results in longer fasting periods, as well as lower fat stores, decreased access to denning areas, and fewer cubs with lower survival rates. From modelling habitat needs of polar bears, and projected sea ice conditions, it is forecast that approximately two thirds of the world’s polar bears could be extirpated by mid-century [13]. Reduced Arctic sea ice may impact marine ecosystems. It favours…