The Ocean HabitatThe Ocean Habitat

The largest habitat on The largest habitat on Earth: makes up to 97 % Earth: makes up to 97 %

of all livable space on of all livable space on EarthEarth

Land Influenced ZonesLand Influenced Zones

• Better known as: Better known as: The Neritic ZoneThe Neritic Zone

• Shallow area of ocean water in which Shallow area of ocean water in which land has an impactland has an impact

• Coastal zones of the oceanCoastal zones of the ocean

• Usually with 3-5 miles of coastline of Usually with 3-5 miles of coastline of ContinentsContinents

Land Un-Influenced ZonesLand Un-Influenced Zones

• Better known as the: Better known as the: Pelagic zonePelagic zone

• Open oceanOpen ocean

• Land has no effect or little impactLand has no effect or little impact

• Majority of the oceans’ habitatMajority of the oceans’ habitat

Pelagic or Open Water Pelagic or Open Water Zones defined by Light Zones defined by Light

Pelagic ZonesPelagic Zones

• Epipelagic Zone—0-200 meters in depthEpipelagic Zone—0-200 meters in depth

• (all colors visible at first)(all colors visible at first)

• Mesopelagic Zone—200-1000 meters Mesopelagic Zone—200-1000 meters

• (twilight zone: light and dark; no color)(twilight zone: light and dark; no color)

• Bathypelagic Zone—1000-4000 metersBathypelagic Zone—1000-4000 meters

• (no sunlight visible from this depth and (no sunlight visible from this depth and below)below)

• Abyssopelagic Zone—4000-6000 metersAbyssopelagic Zone—4000-6000 meters

• Hadalpelagic Zone—6000-10000 metersHadalpelagic Zone—6000-10000 meters

Epipelagic zone adaptations Epipelagic zone adaptations

• CountershadingCountershading

• Concealment (dermesal (dwelling near Concealment (dermesal (dwelling near the bottom) or vegetal (around the bottom) or vegetal (around plants) )plants) )

• Disruptive-stripes or dots Disruptive-stripes or dots

• AdvertisementAdvertisement

• Mimicry-can mimic other animalsMimicry-can mimic other animals

• TransparentTransparent

Adaptations:Adaptations:

As environments change – As environments change –

Animals (marine and terrestrial ), Animals (marine and terrestrial ), bacteria, fungi, insects, etc bacteria, fungi, insects, etc

MUST adapt or they will DIE off.MUST adapt or they will DIE off.

(The Dodo bird is (The Dodo bird is

An excellent example.)An excellent example.)

Variations in species can help Variations in species can help (or hurt) an animals chance to (or hurt) an animals chance to survive survive Variations can allowVariations can allow

-Animals adapt better to a new -Animals adapt better to a new environment.environment.

- Allow an animal to blend into it’s - Allow an animal to blend into it’s environment.environment.

- Provide a greater opportunity for an - Provide a greater opportunity for an animal to reproduce. (party time !)animal to reproduce. (party time !)

Countershading – is a form of Countershading – is a form of adaptation. adaptation.

Concealment--CamouflageConcealment--Camouflage

• DermersalDermersal

(looks like a (looks like a

rock.)rock.)

• VegetalVegetal

(Looks like a(Looks like a

Plant)Plant)

Disruptive Patterns—such as Disruptive Patterns—such as stripes or dots- allow the fish to stripes or dots- allow the fish to concon

Advertisement—brightly Advertisement—brightly colored--POISONOUScolored--POISONOUS

Mimicry—Brightly Colored—Mimicry—Brightly Colored—NOT poisonousNOT poisonous

Epipelagic AdaptationsEpipelagic Adaptations

• Body Form—Streamed-linedBody Form—Streamed-lined

• Musculature-Strong SwimmersMusculature-Strong Swimmers

• Size-All sizes found hereSize-All sizes found here

• Eyes-Well developed/largeEyes-Well developed/large

Mesoplagic AdaptationsMesoplagic Adaptations

• ColorationColoration

• Black with or without silvery sidesBlack with or without silvery sides

• Counter Illumination (glowing organs)Counter Illumination (glowing organs)

• Body formed: Relatively long but Body formed: Relatively long but sides squeezed insides squeezed in

Mesopelagic AdaptationsMesopelagic Adaptations

• Musculature: Moderately strong Musculature: Moderately strong swimmers some weakswimmers some weak

• Eyes: Very Large Sensitive eyesEyes: Very Large Sensitive eyes

2 Biggest Challenges for 2 Biggest Challenges for Deep Sea LifeDeep Sea Life• Scarcity or Lack of food; Must evolve way of Scarcity or Lack of food; Must evolve way of

obtaining food that rarely gets thereobtaining food that rarely gets there• Expandable stomachs or great smellExpandable stomachs or great smell

• Great Water pressure Great Water pressure • 33 ft of water equal same pressure as 36 33 ft of water equal same pressure as 36

miles of airmiles of air

Deep Pelagic AdaptationsDeep Pelagic Adaptations(Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic)(Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic)

• Color: Black or redColor: Black or red– Bioluminscence-attract prey at times Bioluminscence-attract prey at times

(organs glow)(organs glow)

Deep Pelagic AdaptationsDeep Pelagic Adaptations(Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic)(Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic)• Shape-Globular (round shape)—Large HeadShape-Globular (round shape)—Large Head

• Musculature: Weak swimmers mainlyMusculature: Weak swimmers mainly

• Fins modified as sensory organsFins modified as sensory organs

• Size-Most small but some are largeSize-Most small but some are large

• Eyes-Small or absent (eyes if using Eyes-Small or absent (eyes if using bioluminescence)bioluminescence)

Deep PelagicDeep Pelagic

Benthic Zone—Life in the Benthic Zone—Life in the sandsand

• Coloration: Black or BrownColoration: Black or Brown

• Shape Elongated or flattenedShape Elongated or flattened

• Strong Muscles (to borrow in sand)Strong Muscles (to borrow in sand)

• Size: Relatively LargeSize: Relatively Large

• Eyes: SmallEyes: Small