MARINE ECOLOGY

MARINE ECOSYSTEMIs an organized system of relationship between plants and

animals in the aquatic environment.

OCEANOGRAPHERS Who investigates the physical, chemical and biological properties of ocean waters, ocean currents and ocean basins.

MARINE PROVINCESA. Pelagic DivisionB. Benthic Division

A. PELAGIC DIVISION This division embodies all the waters of the oceans and their adjacent salt water bodies.

1. NERITIC ZONE Extending offshore to the edge of the continental shelf to a

depth of 600 ft. Rich in plant nutrients, especially the phosphates and nitrates. The water is more variable in density and in chemical content

than oceanic waters.

2. OCEANIC ZONE Has well-populated upper, lighted, 660 ft. stratum, deeper,

relatively dark, and sparsely populated layers. Characterized by great pressure, animals modified for life in

darkness and under great pressure, and very few bottom animals.

The water is usually very transparent

B. BENTHIC DIVISION The division of the marine environment embraces the entire ocean floor, both coastal bottom and deep sea bottom, properly termed the littoral and deep-sea systems, respectively.

1. LITTORAL ZONEArea located between the high and low tide

marks.Animals living are adapted to periodic exposure

to air and sun as the tides eeb and flow Most animals are motile

2 TYPES OF LITTORAL ZONEa. EULITTORAL ZONE

This is probably the richest zone of the marine ecosystem with respect to numbers and kinds of organisms.

Factors that changes in this environment are:Light

TemperatureSalinity

Time exposure

These variations are reflect in shapes movements, tolerance and life histories of the characteristic animals and plants.

5 MAJOR KINGDOMS IN THE OCEAN

1. MONERA2. PROTISTA3. FUNGI 4. METAPHYTA5. METAZOA

Monera: (bacteria)-no internal cell

membranes-planktonic or benthic-recycle organic material-some photosynthetic

Protista: foraminifera, diatom, seaweed

-planktonic or benthic-internal membranes-planktonic, benthic, eat or

photosynthesize

SEA WEEDS

Fungi• Abundant in the intertidal zone• Not as diverse as on land• Important in decomposition

Metaphyta• Plants that grow attached to the sea floor– Red, brown, and green algae– Advanced plants of salt marshes and coastalswamps• Only found in shallow areas where bottomis in the photic zone

Metazoa: multicellular animals

2. DEEP-SEA SYSTEM

COMPONENTS OF MARINE ECOSYTEM( classification by lifestyle)

A. PLANKTON ORGANISMSB. ZOOPLANKTONC. NEKTON COMMUNITYD. BENTHOS ORGANISMSE. CORAL REEFSF. MANGROVE SWAMPS

A. PLANKTON ORGANISMS These organisms are small, mostly microscopic and have a little or no power of locomotion, being distributed by water movements.

PHYTOPLANKTON This includes all the following plants, such as the small algae,

fungi and sargasum weed. The most important in the economy of the sea are the Algae,

Diatoms and Dinoflagellates. They are the major producers in marine plankton.

DIATOMS Are microscopic, unicellular

plants and some of them form chains.

They possess characteristic shell composed of translucent silica, and have a great variety

of form and sculpture. Possess one or more

chromophores, ranging in color from yellow to brown.

Occurs as fossil, siliceous shell deposits, called “diatomaceous

earth” and as a living producers in practically all

habitats of the broad marine ecosystem.

They are found floating in water, attached to the bottom, on larger plants, on animals, and as spores, enclosed in

Arctic ice.

Different shapes of Diatoms

Phytoplankton organisms are more abundant in natural –rich coastal waters than in offshore oceanic waters. They are the primary producers upon which

large and small marine animals feed.

DINOFLAGELLATES Possess whip-like flagella

that provide a slight degree of locomotion.

Possess structural modifications that indicate adaptation to environment conditions.

B. ZOOPLANKTONOrganisms are the floating or weakly swimming

animals, which include the eggs and larval stages as well as adult forms.

PRINCIPAL KINDS includes

PROTOZOA such as Foraminifera and Radiolarian CRUSTACEA such as Ostracods and Copepods LARVAL STAGES JELLYFISHES WORMS MOLLUSKS and also the eggs and early developmental

stages of most of the non- planktonic organisms in the sea.

Copepods• Small herbivores (plant eaters) that filterdiatoms from the water• Molt their outer skeleton as they grow• About the size of a grain of rice• Migrate vertically seasonally

Foramifera• Single celled, microscopic organisms• Calcium carbonate shells - Carbonates• Benthic forms outnumber the pelagic• Their shells are porous and protoplasmstreams from inside the shell to engulf anddigest food

C. NEKTON COMMUNITY They are actively swimming animals in marine

ecosystems. They comprise adult stages of such familiar forms as

crabs, squids, fish and whales.

REPTILES Are airs breathing animals that live both on land and the

sea. Some of them are snakes, turtles, crocodiles and lizards.

D. BENTHOS ORGANISMS They are relatively few kinds and numbers of animals on the

deep-sea floor. They are mainly mud dwellers, possessing characteristic

structures permitting life in a quiet, dark, muddy environment where food is scarce.

They are snails, mussels, clams, oysters, sea anemones, sea urchin, sea cucumbers and starfish.

Epifauna - live on the bottomInfauna – live within the bottom sediments Note: fauna signifies animals not plants

E. CORAL REEFS Are the habitats of marine organisms, like sea hares, sea

fans, sea anemones and nudibranchs. Are important source of fish and other fishery products. Are massive deposits of limestone that have been produced

by coral animals belonging to Phylum Cnidarian, Order Scleractinia with major additions from calcareous algae and other organisms that secrete calcium carbonate.

Examples of Coral Reef

CERTAIN FACTORS THAT FAVORS THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORAL REEFS

1. Temperature above 18 degrees Celsius.2. Water depth shallower than 50 meters.3. Constant salinity greater than 30 but less than 36 parts per thousand.4. Low sedimentation rates.5. Sufficient circulation of pollution-free water.6. Pre-existing hard substrate.

THREE TYPES OF CORAL REEFS are;1. ATOLLS are circle reefs enclosing a lagoon, horseshoe-shaped ridges of reefs.

2. BARRIER REEFS along continents.

3. FRINGING REEFS are very common around tropical high islands and sometimes border the main coastline.

FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF CORAL REEFS

1. Pollution from oil, sewage, heavy metals and thermal discharge, have caused the destruction of fringing reefs.

2. Destructive fishing activities such as blasting, dragging nets over reefs and the use of cyanide.

3. Reef gleaners break corals by walking over the reef at low tide to gather food and swimmer damage coral with their fins.

4. Tourists sometimes remove live corals and reef animals for souvenir. Indiscriminate anchoring tourists’ boats over coral reefs have caused huge destruction to frequently visited areas.

F. MANGROVE SWAMP Help to form Island and extend shores. (LAND BUILDER) Are among the few emergent land plants that tolerate the

salinities of the open sea.

TWO TYPES OF MANGROVE1. RED MANGROVE Form the outermost zone. Has an extensive deposition of mud and silt. Provide surfaces for attachment of marine organisms. Its seed sprout while still on the tree, the seedlings drop off

and float in the water where well-develop roots may take hold, perhaps to start anew island.

2. BLACK MANGROVE Forms a zone nearer shore. Its roots stick up the mud like branch of asparagus.

Mangroves are not only important in extending coasts and building islands, but also in protecting coasts from excessive erosion which might otherwise be produced by fierce tropical storms.

PROBLEMS OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM

Classified as:

1. Nature-induced stresses2. Man-induced stresses

1. NATURE-INDUCED STRESSES By water movement and geological and biological

factors

a. Water movements due to typhoons or cyclonic phenomenon.b. Biological factors such as competitions and predation are known to cause reef deterioration.

2. MAN-INDUCED STRESSES Are siltation, overfishing in shallow coastal waters,

destructive fishing, logging and conversion of mangroves into fishponds, pollution and expansion of tourism activities.

a. SILTATION. Excessive siltations due to deforestation and mining activities have been observed to cause the death of coral reefs.

b. OVERFISHING. Overfishing means the continuous exploitation of particular fishing ground over sometime period.

c. DESTRUCTIVE FISHING.Practice which plague the marine ecosystem include;

-Blast fishing means the use of dynamite or any other explosive in fishing.

-Cyanide is the common poison used by illegal fisherman. Caused several of skin disease.

-Electro-fishing is fishing with the used of electric generators.

-Trawl fishing is done with a net in the shape of ling conical bag tapering from the wide-open mouth to a narrow

bag at the end.

d. POLLUTION. Industrial waste.May caused:

-The instability and death of organisms associated with corals which could ultimately lead to the extinction of species.

-Decreased productivity followed by the decreased of fish production which results to the loss of a source of

livelihood of fisherman and other people involved in the fishing industry.

-An increase in coastal erosion.

-The DE growth of the tourism industry.

-A loss in part of our natural heritage.

e. TOURISM INDUSTRY. Lack of guidelines on marine preservation.

RED TIDE-Is a natural phenomenon brought about by the bloom or

predominance of floating microscopic organisms known as DINOFLAGELLATES.

-It is called red tide because of the reddish color of dinoflagellates give to the cell when present in high cell densities.

-It organisms that caused deaths in the country has been identified as PYRODINIUM HABAMENSE VAR COMPRESA. This organism is attracted to sunlight during daytime and settles at the bottom in the dark hours.

- The poison in the organism is known as SAXITOXIN. It is water-soluble salt that affects the nervous system.

THREE CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER RED TIDES1. Stirring up of the sediment in the nearshore waters by wind action.2. High temperature of water due to summer sun which makes the sea more salty.3. Nutrient enrichment of the sea. Occurs during May and June.

PROTECTION OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMRULES AND REGULATIONS (Implemented by the DENR)

1. Prohibit various forms of illegal fishing.2. Prohibit the exportation of Bangus fry.3. Prohibit the operation of commercial trawls and purse seines in certain areas.4. Establish fish refuges and sanctuaries.5. Establish “closed seasons”.6. Explore, exploit, utilize and conserve coral reef.7. Insure continuous supply of fish in communal water areas.8.Under take and arrange special technical assistance and training programs.9. Conduct research and study fish and fishery products and resources.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!!

REPORTED BY:

AMIL, RENZ MAVERICALMEDA, CATHERINECAYACO, DENNESEIRIOLA, JOCHRIS