The Ocean Habitat

1. The Ocean Habitat The largest habitat on Earth: makes up to 97 % of all livable space on Earth

3. Land Influenced Zones • Better known as: The Neritic Zone • Shallow area of ocean water in which land has an impact • Coastal zones of the ocean • Usually with 3-5 miles of coastline of Continents

4. Land Un-Influenced Zones • Better known as the: Pelagic zone • Open ocean • Land has no effect or little impact • Majority of the oceans’ habitat

5. Pelagic or Open Water Zones defined by Light

6. Pelagic Zones • Epipelagic Zone—0-200 meters in depth • (all colors visible at first) • Mesopelagic Zone—200-1000 meters • (twilight zone: light and dark; no color) • Bathypelagic Zone—1000-4000 meters • (no sunlight visible from this depth and below) • Abyssopelagic Zone—4000-6000 meters • Hadalpelagic Zone—6000-10000 meters

8. Epipelagic zone adaptations • Countershading • Concealment (dermesal (dwelling near the bottom) or vegetal (around plants) ) • Disruptive-stripes or dots • Advertisement • Mimicry-can mimic other animals • Transparent

9. Adaptations: As environments change – Animals (marine and terrestrial ), bacteria, fungi, insects, etc MUST adapt or they will DIE off. (The Dodo bird is An excellent example.)

10. Variations in species can help (or hurt) an animals chance to survive Variations can allow -Animals adapt better to a new environment. - Allow an animal to blend into it’s environment. - Provide a greater opportunity for an animal to reproduce. (party time !)

11. Countershading – is a form of adaptation.

12. Concealment--Camouflage • Dermersal (looks like a rock.) • Vegetal (Looks like a Plant)

13. Disruptive Patterns—such as stripes or dots- allow the fish to con

14. Advertisement—brightly colored--POISONOUS

15. Mimicry—Brightly Colored—NOT poisonous

16. Epipelagic Adaptations • Body Form—Streamed-lined • Musculature-Strong Swimmers • Size-All sizes found here • Eyes-Well developed/large

17. Mesoplagic Adaptations • Coloration • Black with or without silvery sides • Counter Illumination (glowing organs) • Body formed: Relatively long but sides squeezed in

18. Mesopelagic Adaptations • Musculature: Moderately strong swimmers some weak • Eyes: Very Large Sensitive eyes

19. 2 Biggest Challenges for Deep Sea Life • Scarcity or Lack of food; Must evolve way of obtaining food that rarely gets there • Expandable stomachs or great smell • Great Water pressure • 33 ft of water equal same pressure as 36 miles of air

20. Deep Pelagic Adaptations(Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic) • Color: Black or red • Bioluminscence-attract prey at times (organs glow)

21. Deep Pelagic Adaptations(Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic) • Shape-Globular (round shape)—Large Head • Musculature: Weak swimmers mainly • Fins modified as sensory organs • Size-Most small but some are large • Eyes-Small or absent (eyes if using bioluminescence)

22. Deep Pelagic

23. Benthic Zone—Life in the sand • Coloration: Black or Brown • Shape Elongated or flattened • Strong Muscles (to borrow in sand) • Size: Relatively Large • Eyes: Small