Life in the Ocean

Objectives:1.List 5 things that oceans provide for organisms.2. Differentiate between photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.3. Define plankton, nekton and benthos.

Oceans provide for life

• Water: it provides a stable environment for sea life. It is necessary for digestion, cellular respiration and reproduction.

• Food: nutrients and prey• Buoyancy: this supports large sea life as

well as plankton• Shelter: The ocean has reefs and plantlife

that provide homes for differ

Photosynthesis vs.Chemosynthesis

• Photosynthesis: Uses light energy from the sun to make food

• Chemosynthesis: Uses a chemical to make food. This takes place along mid-ocean ridges where hot water and sulfur enable bacteria to produce their own food. Larger ocean organisms eat these bacteria so they get their food from chemosynthesis.

3 Types of Ocean Life

• Plankton: composed of tiny marine algae, especially diatoms, eggs, young fish, jellyfish and crabs. Most move with the current but some can swim.

• Nekton: actively swimming animals that use buoyancy to move to different depths in the ocean

• Benthos: bottom-dwelling organisms

Plankton

Nekton

Benthos