Classifying Organisms:Classifying Organisms:Biological Zonation –Biological Zonation –

Based on where they live / lifestyleBased on where they live / lifestyleThis is how ecologists talk about This is how ecologists talk about

systemssystems

Taxonomic Classification – Taxonomic Classification – Based on structural characteristicsBased on structural characteristicsThis is how evolutionary biologists This is how evolutionary biologists

talk about organisms and the talk about organisms and the relationships between them.relationships between them.

Biological Zonation:Biological Zonation:Neritic – Shallow, coastal zone. Neritic – Shallow, coastal zone.

Extends to the edge of the Extends to the edge of the continental shelf.continental shelf.

Oceanic – The rest of the ocean. Oceanic – The rest of the ocean. This zone is broken into layers This zone is broken into layers based on how much sunlight based on how much sunlight penetrates.penetrates.

Benthic – lives on, in, or attached to theBenthic – lives on, in, or attached to thebottom of the sea floorbottom of the sea floor

Benthic Organisms:Benthic Organisms:

Elkhorn Elkhorn CoralCoral

Fire CoralFire Coral Gorgonian Gorgonian

CoralCoral

Animals that walk on the bottom:

Benthic Organisms:Benthic Organisms:

CrabsCrabs LobstersLobsters Sea Sea

UrchinUrchin

Plants/Algae growing Plants/Algae growing in the sedimentin the sediment

Benthic Organisms:Benthic Organisms: AlgaeAlgae SeagrassSeagrass

Burrowing Burrowing AnimalsAnimals

Mole Mole CrabCrab

Coquina Coquina ClamsClams

WormsWorms

Benthic Organisms:Benthic Organisms:

Benthic organisms can also be Benthic organisms can also be described by their relation to the tides.described by their relation to the tides.

Biological Zonation:Biological Zonation:Benthic organisms can also be Benthic organisms can also be described by their relation to the tides.described by their relation to the tides.

Supratidal – live above the high Supratidal – live above the high tide line.tide line.

Blue Land Blue Land CrabCrab

Ghost Crab

Fiddler CrabFiddler Crab

Land Hermit CrabLand Hermit Crab

Coconut Coconut CrabCrab

Can grow up to 3 feet Can grow up to 3 feet acrossacross

Spray Zone

Biological Zonation:Biological Zonation:Benthic organisms can also be Benthic organisms can also be described by their relation to the tides.described by their relation to the tides.Intertidal – live between the high tide Intertidal – live between the high tide line and the low tide line.line and the low tide line.

Stressful Environment –Stressful Environment –Underwater part of the dayUnderwater part of the dayExposed to air part of the dayExposed to air part of the dayHuge temperature change dailyHuge temperature change daily

LimpetsLimpets

SnailsSnails

OperculumOperculum

MusselsMussels

OystersOysters

Wrack Line

AmphipodAmphipod

BarnaclesBarnacles

ChitonChiton

WormWormss

Mudskippers

Birds like sandpipers and oystercatchers move between the

intertidal and supratidal. They rely on the neritic

area for food.

Biological Zonation:Biological Zonation:Benthic organisms can also be Benthic organisms can also be described by their relation to the tides.described by their relation to the tides.

Subtidal – live below the low tide Subtidal – live below the low tide line.line.

Classifying Organisms:Classifying Organisms:

The subtidal organisms are classified The subtidal organisms are classified based on their swimming behavior.based on their swimming behavior.

Nekton - swimmingNekton - swimming

Nektonic Organisms:Nektonic Organisms:

FishFish

Nektonic Organisms:Nektonic Organisms:

SharksSharksTurtlesTurtlesRaysRays

Classifying Organisms:Classifying Organisms:Nekton – swimmingNekton – swimmingPlankton – Anything that can’t Plankton – Anything that can’t

swim against a current. swim against a current. From Greek “planktos”, which From Greek “planktos”, which means “drifter”means “drifter”

PlanktonPlankton Phytoplankton – PlantsPhytoplankton – Plants

DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates Primarily tropicalPrimarily tropical Often bioluminescentOften bioluminescent

Bio Bay off the coast of Puerto

Rico

The water has approximately

750,000 dinoflagellates

per gallon.

PlanktonPlankton Phytoplankton – PlantsPhytoplankton – Plants

DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates Primarily tropicalPrimarily tropical Often bioluminescentOften bioluminescent Responsible for red tidesResponsible for red tides

Red TideRed Tide

PlanktonPlankton Phytoplankton – PlantsPhytoplankton – Plants

DiatomsDiatoms Primarily arcticPrimarily arctic SiOSiO22 shell shell

PlanktonPlankton Phytoplankton – PlantsPhytoplankton – Plants Zooplankton - animalsZooplankton - animals

Holoplankton – always planktonicHoloplankton – always planktonic

PlanktonPlankton Holoplankton – always planktonicHoloplankton – always planktonicArrow Worm

Copepod

Eggs

PlanktonPlankton Phytoplankton – PlantsPhytoplankton – Plants Zooplankton - animalsZooplankton - animals

Holoplankton – always planktonicHoloplankton – always planktonic Meroplankton – planktonic for part of Meroplankton – planktonic for part of

their lifetheir life

Planktonic Organisms:Planktonic Organisms:

Larvae of Larvae of MANY MANY marine marine organismsorganisms

Coral Larvae

Sea Star Larvae

Crab LarvaeFish Eggs

Shrimp Larvae

Not all plankton is small!!Not all plankton is small!!Ocean Sunfish

Many marine mammals also spend time in

multiple zones. They are part of all of them!

Bioluminescence is very common in the ocean

Especially in the deep sea.