Salt Water Biome

By: Devon Guerrelli, Tom Brown, Tim Rancourt

Geographical Features

Estuary

Ocean

Coral Reefs

Estuary

A partially closed body of water that is connected to a stream or river on one side, and the ocean on the other side. They are transition zones between salt and fresh water. Estuaries usually have a mix of salt and fresh water in them

Coral Reef

Coral reefs are formed by calcium carbonate released from corals. They are sometimes called “rainforests of the sea.” Reefs are home to many different species of aquatic life.

Ocean

An ocean is a major body of salt water that takes up 71% of the world. There are only four ocean on Earth. The Arctic, Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans are all connected to one another by another form of water.

Geological Features

Ocean Geology

Coral Reef Geology

Estuary Geology

Continental shelf - section extending from the coast of the continent to the continental rise; its depth is no more than 660 feet.

Trench - Extremely deep depression next to a continent or island. It occurs when a tectonic plate moves under another.

Dam - a barrier that obstructs the flow of water across a stream or river.

Shore – the land along the edge of a body of water

Photosynthetic OrganismsOrganisms in the ocean that do photosynthesis PhytoplanktonCyanobacteriaMicroscopic organismsAlgaeBacteria

Ocean AnimalsArthropods

Barnacles Blue-banded Hermit Crab Hairy Hermit Crab Horseshoe Crab Mangrove Tree Crab Purple Shore Crab Spiny Lobster Squat Lobster Speckled Crab Spider Crab

Cnidarians Sea Nettle Jellyfish Sea Anemones Sand Dollars Sea Cucumber Bat Star Purple Sea Urchin

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Video

MollusksBlack Turban SnailConchsOctopus Sea HareSlipper Shells

MammalsEndangered WhalesTypes of DolphinsCalifornia Sea LionElephant SealHarbor SealManatee FactsPolar BearSea OtterSea Lion

OthersGreat White SharkHawksbill Sea TurtleBottlenose DolphinFrench AngelfishSea Otter

Coral Reef Animals• Crustaceans

– Shrimp– Lobsters– Crabs

• Mollusks– Clams– Oysters– Squid– Octopus

• Sea Anemones• Hard and Soft Corals

– Red Mushroom Coral– Elkhorn Coral– Brain Coral

• Others– Sea Urchins– Jellyfish– Turtles– Sponges– Sea Worms

Estuary Animals o Birds

o Bald Eagleso Peregrine

Falconso Sandpiperso Duckso Black Brant

o Fisho Eelso Whitebaito Puffer fisho Pacific Salmono Chinook Salmon

oOther OrganismsoAsian river otter  oRiver ottersoMud ShrimpoDungeness CrabsoCrabs oSeals oHerring oSunflower StaroPlankton oCrocodilesoSting RayoHippooDolphins

Adaptations

Many of the animals in salt water environments have adapted to the water both internally and externally. They are able to have higher concentrations of salt inside their bodies and for animals that live in the water, they can breathe the water and filter out the salt. They also have adapted to be able to swim easily through the constantly moving water and be able to get food.

Human Impact

• Drive boats causing the gas to spill in the ocean

• Oil spills

• People throw trash in the water

What can be done

•Pick up trash

•Not throw trash in there

•Be more careful not to spill oil in the ocean

•Drive a wooden boat for less pollution

How to make $$$ from the ocean

• People have dolphin watches. You have a boat that takes people into the ocean looking for dolphins. You charge them for the ride. You make money to show people what is in the ocean.

Questions

• What is an Estuary?• What are the “rainforests of the sea”?• How much of Earth is made of ocean?• Name 1 Photosynthetic Organism?• Name 3 Ocean animals?• Name 3 Coral Reef animals?• Name 3 Estuary animals?

Citations• http://visual.merriam-webster.com/earth/geology/ocean-floor.php• http://www.livescience.com/environment/050214_plankton_space.html• http://www.nature.org/animals/oceans/• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/coral-reef-animals.html• http://greennature.com/gallery/intertidal-animals/• http://www.ehow.com/list_6833446_animals-plants-estuary.html• http://dictionary.reference.com/

• Tom Brown- 1,2,6

• Devon Guerrelli- 3,4,5

• Tim Rancourt- 7,8,9

FIN