The document summarizes life in the oceans across three dimensions. It discusses how oceans cover most of the planet's surface and contain a diversity of environments. Upwellings of nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths fuel high productivity along western coasts. Primary production varies globally and is limited by factors like temperature, sunlight, salinity, and nutrient availability. Life in the oceans includes plankton throughout the water column, benthic organisms along the seafloor, and nekton capable of independent movement against currents.
1. Life in the Ocean By Cristina B. June 8 2009 Music: Song for the Ocean by Kristin Hoffmann http://www.kristinhoffmann.com/
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3. Our Oceans Atlantic Pacific Indian Arctic Antarctic “ ONE OCEAN” All are interconnected thanks to an important system of oceanic currents both at surface and in the depths.
4. Oceanic Circulation The centres of the Oceans (within the Gyres) are like deserts, with little biological production... Whereas the western coasts are frequently very rich areas of high productivity thanks to vertical currents known as UPWELLINGS.
5. Upwellings Vertical currents bring nutrient-rich waters from the ocean depths to the surface where the presence of sunlight allows phytoplankton to shift photosynthesis into a higher gear. This results in more food available for all.
6. Primary Production (gC/m 2 /year) Notice how productive certain areas are, like the North Sea, a region intensly fished!
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8. Light Euphotic layer Receives enough light for photosynthesis Aphotic layer Total Darkness Oligophotic layer Dusk Zone PROBLEM: PHOTOSYNTHESIS REQUIRES LIGHT + NUTRIENTS , BUT LIGHT IS FOUND IN THE UPPER LAYER WHEREAS NUTRIENT-RICH WATERS ARE NEAR THE BOTTOM! SOLUTION: UPWELLINGS + STORMS (mix up the water column) DEPTH REMINERALIZATION PHOTOSYNTHESIS
15. Copepods 2 mm You don’t want to know how many of these you can swallow in a bucket full of sea water…
16. Other crustaceans Many animals that live on the sea floor actually live in the water column as plankton when they’re young. As they grow older and bigger (and go through several metamorphosis) they migrate back down to the bottom. krill amphipod Lobster larvae
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