Zones of the open ocean
Scientists divide the open ocean into _________.
What are five zones?
Organisms found in the benthic zone are called ______
What are benthos?
Probably the most important ecosystem service (benefit)provided by coral reefs is _______________.
What is the maintenance of biodiversity?
Reef erosion can be both ___ and ______.
What is biological and physical?
An animal which feeds on other organisms to gain energy from food
What is a consumer?
Scientists divide the open ocean into five zones based on______________________.
What is light penetration?
The epipelagic zone of the World Ocean contains billions of photosynthetic organisms known as _______.
What are phytoplankton?
When a coral reef begins to lose more calcium carbonate each year than it accumulates, it is undergoing _____________.
What is reef erosion?
Often referred to as bioerosion, include predation of coral organisms.
What is biological causes of coral erosion?
The process of using light energy to synthesise glucose from carbon dioxide and water to produce chemical energy.
What is photosynthesis?
Light penetration depends on the ___________ and ___
What is wavelength of the light and the turbidity (clarity) of the water.
The World Ocean provides several benefits, such as _________ (3 important benefits)
What is carbon storage, source of oxygen, a temperature buffer and global climate control?
The sandy shores have a unique set of factors for organisms to adapt to. The most challenging factor is the ever shifting, ______________.
What is porous substrate?
A process where the pH of the ocean is reduced over an extended period of time; generally attributed to a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
What is ocean acidification?
A continuos physical movement of water caused by wind or density.
What is current?
The seafloor and the area immediately above it make up the ___________.
What is the benthic zone?
Some benefits that the oceans provide are ___________ (mention at least three)
What is food production, maintaining biodiversity, and recreation?
Organisms living in a rocky shore have a lot to contend with including ________ (name at least 3)
What is fluctuating temperatures, wave action, exposure to air based on the tides, slope of the shore, what type of rocks, how much sunlight is available?
Whitening of coral that results from the loss of a coral's symbiotic zooxanthellae.
What is coral bleaching?
The deposition of suspended particles from water.
What is sedimentation?
This is the zone of the ocean with abundant productivity due to the high levels of light and nutrients.
What is the epipelagic zone?
or
What is the zone between 0 and 200m?
Organisms here typically have enough light to see, but not to perform photosynthesis.
What is mesopelagic zone?
or
What is the zone between 200m to 1000m in depth?
Organisms here live in complete darkness; therefore, many organisms are transparent and bioluminescent.
What is the bathypelagic zone?
or
what is the zone between 1000 and 4000m deep?
Due to the unending darkness, this region (ocean zone) is home to many species of blind and colorless animals.
What is the abyssopelagic zone?
or
What is the ocean zone between 4000 and 6000m deep?
Bacteria or fungi which break down dead organic matter and release the nutrients back into the environment.
What are decomposers?