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What is the world's smallest Ocean?
Arctic Ocean
Why is the ice cap in the Arctic ocean important?
It absorbs 90% of solar radiation. Changes in sea ice cover have a big impact on how much sunlight the planet absorbs, and how fast it warms up.
Do people live in the Near the Arctic Ocean?
About four million people live in the Arctic region, many of them indigenous groups that have thrived there for millennia.
Does the Arctic Ocean Ice coverage make the bottom of the ocean dark?
Yes, photographers and scientists have only recently begun to explore the colder darker waters and marine life.
Why are plankton important to the overall food web of the world?
Plankton are at the base of the food chain, meaning they are critical in supporting marine and freshwater food webs. Phytoplankton are also primary produces, meaning they use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, and are responsible for up to half of the oxygen we breathe.
What is an example of wildlife/marine life adapting to living in the Arctic?
Polar bears have large, paddle-like paws to propel them through the water, and they've been documented swimming for hours. Walruses have large tusks that they use to pull themselves out of the water, and they find much of their food by foraging along the seafloor.
How does climate change effect the polar bears?
Their dependence on sea ice makes them highly vulnerable to a changing climate. Polar bears rely heavily on the sea ice environment for traveling, hunting, mating, resting, and in some areas, maternal dens. In particular, they depend heavily on sea ice-dependent prey, such as ringed and bearded seals.
What color is a polar bears skin and fur?
Beneath all that thick fur, polar bears have jet black skin. The polar bear's fur is also translucent, and only appears white because it reflects visible light.
How much can a walrus weigh?
Up to 4,400 pounds!
Why are a walrus's tusks important?
Walruses use their tusks to haul themselves out of the water and onto the sea ice. Their tusks are also used for keeping breathing holes open in the ice, fighting with other walruses, and for defence against predators.
Many organizations are coming together to spread awareness and slow down the effects of climate change. Each one of us can also help in our own ways.
What is a coral reef?
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate.
Thousands of species of corals have been discovered; some live in warm, shallow, tropical seas and others in the cold, dark depths of the ocean.
What percentage of Marine life depend on coral reefs?
About 25% of the ocean's fish depend on healthy coral reefs. Fishes and other organisms shelter, find food, reproduce, and rear their young in the many nooks and crannies formed by corals.
What are the benefits of coral reef systems?
Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines.
What is coral bleaching?
Bleached coral or Coral bleaching is the process when corals become white due to various stressors, such as changes in temperature, light, or nutrients. Essentially, the coral is dying.
What are threats to coral reef systems?
Coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened. Some threats are natural, such as diseases, predators, and storms. Other threats are caused by people, including pollution, sedimentation, unsustainable fishing practices, and climate change, which is raising ocean temperatures and causing ocean acidification.
During the 2014-2017 coral bleaching event, what percentage of warm waters affected coral reef systems worldwide?
70%
Yes! Unlike plants, corals do not make their own food. Corals are in fact animals. The branch or mound that we often call “a coral” is actually made up of thousands of tiny animals called polyps.
Are all corals the same shape, color and size?
No! There Are Hundreds of Coral Species of All Colors, Shapes and Sizes.
Why is it dangerous for boats/ships to make their way through the Arctic ocean now that the ice is melting?
Yet conservation groups like the World Wildlife Fund say expanding drilling for oil in the Arctic could further imperil the relatively pristine, and fragile, environment. Underwater noise from drilling can disrupt the many marine animals that rely on sonar or acoustic communication, the group says. And oil or gas spills—always a risk of industry operations—may be particularly hard to clean up and may have long-lasting effects in the cold climate.
How can we help coral reefs?
Ensuring that there is less pollution entering the ocean can help far-away corals. Also, people can help by making sure that the seafood consumed is sustainable and not contributing to a depletion of fish species that keep algae in check, following fishing regulations when fishing, as well as supporting marine protected areas in key conservation sites. Passing laws and watching our own individual intake of food/ throwing out garbage without littering.
What do coral eat?
Each coral polyp has stinging cells in its tentacles that are used like harpoons to spear floating plants and animals, called plankton. Like their jellyfish cousins, corals have stinging cells to help them catch, debilitate and eat their plankton and fish prey.
Can corals be fluorescent?
Some corals can naturally produce fluorescent pigments that can appear as a wide array of colors. It’s thought that the fluorescent molecules may have a protective function to shield coral from ultraviolet and high light.
Corals are indicator species, meaning they are very sensitive to environmental changes in their ecosystem. In great environmental conditions, coral colonies have been documented to live for hundreds or thousands of years. In perfect conditions, researchers think they could live forever!
Do only fish benefit from coral reefs?
No! Coral reefs benefit humans, other animals such as sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals, and plants.