Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems

Coastal WetlandsCoastal Wetlands

• Coastal areas covered by salt water for all or part Coastal areas covered by salt water for all or part of the timeof the time

• Functions include:Functions include:-Habitat and nesting for-Habitat and nesting forfish and wildlifefish and wildlife- Flood and erosion control- Flood and erosion control-Filter out pollutants-Filter out pollutants-recreation-recreation

EstuariesEstuaries• An area where freshwater An area where freshwater

from a river mixes with from a river mixes with salt water from the oceansalt water from the ocean

• Highly productive: Highly productive:

- constantly receive - constantly receive nutrients from the rivernutrients from the river

- shallow so sunlight can - shallow so sunlight can reach to the bottomreach to the bottom

• Large populations of Large populations of rooted plants and rooted plants and plankton support diverse plankton support diverse food chainsfood chains

Development on estuariesDevelopment on estuaries

• Many of the world’s cities were built Many of the world’s cities were built on estuaries:on estuaries:

• New York, Shanghai, Buenos Aires,New York, Shanghai, Buenos Aires,

BombayBombay

• Estuaries are threatened by sewage, Estuaries are threatened by sewage, agricultural runoff and industrial agricultural runoff and industrial waste.waste.

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

• Reefs are built by tiny animals called coral Reefs are built by tiny animals called coral polyps and the algae that live inside them.polyps and the algae that live inside them.

• Coral polyps secrete skeletons of calcium Coral polyps secrete skeletons of calcium carbonate which accumulate to form reefs.carbonate which accumulate to form reefs.

• Coral reefs are very diverse ecosystemsCoral reefs are very diverse ecosystems

• Found only in warm salt water with Found only in warm salt water with enough light for photosynthesisenough light for photosynthesis

Reefs in dangerReefs in danger

• 50% of the world’s coral reefs are in 50% of the world’s coral reefs are in danger!danger!

• Causes include:Causes include:

-Global warming-Global warming

-Oil spills-Oil spills

-Polluting runoff-Polluting runoff

-overfishing-overfishing

OceansOceans

• Sunlight only penetrates 330 ft into Sunlight only penetrates 330 ft into the oceanthe ocean

• Much ocean life is concentrated in Much ocean life is concentrated in shallow, coastal water shallow, coastal water

• The depths of the ocean are darkThe depths of the ocean are dark

• Decomposers and filter feeders feed Decomposers and filter feeders feed on organisms that fall from the on organisms that fall from the surfacesurface

Threats to the OceanThreats to the Ocean

• Our oceans are becoming steadily Our oceans are becoming steadily pollutedpolluted

• Runoff leads to algal bloomRunoff leads to algal bloom• Waste from cities and industry Waste from cities and industry

pollutes coastal areaspollutes coastal areas• Sewage from coastal areasSewage from coastal areas• OverfishingOverfishing• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-

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