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6425
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
 
Energy in Everyday Life
In ordinary language, people speak of “producing” or “using” energy. However, we when we say “produce energy” we actually mean to convert energy from one form into another. For example, the stored energy of water behind a dam is released when the water flows downhill and drives a turbine generator (Fig. 1A). Similarly, windmills allow us to capture energy when the wind is blowing (Fig. 1B).
   

Energy in Your Food

  All of the energy we get from food can be traced back to the sun! Plants use energy from the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide into usable sugars, a process called photosynthesis. Those plants may then be eaten by bugs, who are eaten by animals, who are then eaten by larger animals. So, the whole process is powered by the sun!   The food we eat fuels our body to grow, heal, stay warm, and gives us energy throughout the day. In our everyday lives, we might eat a chicken that ate a caterpillar that ate a leaf that grew through photosynthesis. The labels on our food provide an ingredient list and nutrition facts to help us know what we are eating (Fig. 2).

Food Chains

Food chains are simplistic models that describe the feeding relationships among various species of organisms in an ecological community. Food chains are useful tools for understanding the trophic levels of organisms in an ecological community. Arrows are used to represent the transfer of energy from each level in a linear way (Fig. 3).     In this food chain example, the algae represent the primary producers, which are autotrophic organisms that make their own food by converting the energy from sunlight into food energy. Consumers are heterotrophic organisms that cannot produce their own food and must obtain food by eating other things. The sea urchin is a herbivore, an eater of plants or algae, and is a primary consumer in this example. Carnivores eat herbivores and other types of carnivores. The octopus is a carnivore, and because it is the first carnivore in the food chain, it is also a primary carnivore. The eel is a secondary carnivore. And finally, the ulua is the top predator in this food chain example because no other consumer eats it.

Food Webs

In a given ecosystem or community, many different food chains can be combined into a food web (Fig. 4). Food webs give a more realistic picture of feeding relationships.     Consider, for example, the food chain described above. In reality, the algae is eaten by sea urchins as well as by a variety of different species of fish and other invertebrates. In a food web diagram, many arrows can be used to point from the algae to multiple different organisms that feed on it. Likewise, other types of consumers eat sea urchins and octopus and eels. Many arrows can be drawn to account for the feeding relationships of the various organisms in the coral reef community.      

The Transfer of Energy

Plants capture energy directly from the sun. All food sources can be traced back to plants. As the primary producers, plants sit at the base of the energy pyramid (Fig. 5). The different parts of the pyramid are called trophic levels. Only a fraction of energy actually gets transferred from one trophic level to the next. Most often, some energy is used to do work and some energy is lost as heat to the surrounding environment. The same idea can be applied to the energy our bodies need to survive. Each successively higher trophic level has less and less energy available. In a majority of communities, the drop in energy available at each trophic levels is reflected as a drop in the relative abundance (number of organisms) and total biomass (amount of living matter per unit area) of organisms. This is depicted by the smaller and smaller trophic levels within the pyramid.    

Conservation of Energy

Energy is conserved over time. Although some energy is lost as heat when animals digest their food, heat is also a form of energy. And, heat is an important type of energy for keeping mammals, like humans, warm. But, even when energy is lost as heat to the environment, the energy itself is not destroyed.   For example, when wood burns, most of the energy in the wood matter is converted into heat. Some of that heat will escape, and some may be captured to do work, like cooking or warming a house. And, some of the energy and matter from the wood will be left over in the form of ash (which can be added to soil and the remaining energy used by some organisms).
Energy from the Sun Vocabulary
  • Autotrophic: any organism capable of self-nourishment by using inorganic materials as a source of nutrients and using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis as a source of energy, as most plants and certain bacteria.
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2): a colorless, odorless gas made of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms bonded together. CO2 is produced by plants and animals during cellular respiration. CO2 is also producedby burning carbon and organic compounds. CO2 is naturally present in air and is absorbed by plants during photosynthesis.
  • Carnivore: animals that feed primarily or exclusively on animal matter.
  • Consumers: an organism requiring complex organic compounds for food which it obtains by preying on other organisms or by eating particles of organic matter
  • Energy Pyramid: a graphical model of energy flow in a community.
  • Food Chain: simplistic linear models that describe the feeding relationships among various species of organisms in an ecological community.
  • Food Web: The combination of many different food chains in a given ecosystem or community that give a more realistic picture of the feeding relationships.
  • Herbivore: animals that eat only plants
  • Heterotrophic: organisms that obtain nourishment from the ingestion and breakdown of organic matter, such as plants and animals
  • Photosynthesis: the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct.
  • Predator: an organism that primarily obtains food by the killing and consuming of other organisms
  • Primary Consumer: an animal that feeds on primary producers; herbivore.
  • Primary Producers: any green plant or any of various microorganisms that can convert light energy or chemical energy into organic matter.
  • Secondary Consumer: an animal that feeds only upon herbivores; carnivore.
  • Trophic Levels: any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain, as primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.
6424
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

PS3: Energy
How is energy transferred and conserved?

PS3.D. Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life: How do food and fuel provide energy? If energy is conserved, why do people say it is produced or used?

Learning goals by the end of grade 5: The expression “produce energy” typically refers to the conversion of stored energy into a desired form for practical use—for example, the stored energy of water behind a dam is released so that it flows downhill and drives a turbine generator to produce electricity. Food and fuel also release energy when they are digested or burned. When machines or animals “use” energy (e.g., to move around), most often the energy is transferred to heat the surrounding environment.

The energy released by burning fuel or digesting food was once energy from the sun that was captured by plants in the chemical process that forms plant matter (from air and water). (Boundary: The fact that plants capture energy from sunlight is introduced at this grade level, but details of photosynthesis are not.)

It is important to be able to concentrate energy so that it is available for use where and when it is needed. For example, batteries are physically transportable energy storage devices, whereas electricity generated by power plants is transferred from place to place through distribution systems.

LS1.C. Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms: How do organisms obtain and use the matter and energy they need to live and grow?

Learning goals by the end of grade 5: Animals and plants alike generally need to take in air and water, animals must take in food, and plants need light and minerals; anaerobic life, such as bacteria in the gut, functions without air. Food provides animals with the materials they need for body repair and growth and is digested to release the energy they need to maintain body warmth and for motion. Plants acquire their material for growth chiefly from air and water and process matter they have formed to maintain their internal conditions (e.g., at night).

Ocean Literacy Principles

Principle 1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Most of Earth’s water (97%) is in the ocean. Seawater has unique properties. It is salty, its freezing point is slightly lower than fresh water, its density is slightly higher, its electrical conductivity is much higher, and it is slightly basic. Balance of pH is vital for the health of marine ecosystems, and important in controlling the rate at which the ocean will absorb and buffer changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide. (OLP1e)

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: The ocean is connected to major lakes, watersheds, and waterways because all major watersheds on Earth drain to the ocean. Rivers and streams transport nutrients, salts, sediments, and pollutants from watersheds to coastal estuaries and to the ocean. (OLP1g)

Principle 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. (OLP5d)

 

These concepts will be explored in this unit through the following activity and investigation:

ACTIVITY: Understanding Food Webs

ACTIVITY: Reappearing Salt

 

6483
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
5PS_Thumbnail_Intro

Introduction to Energy and Matter

PS3: Energy How is energy transferred and conserved? PS3.D. Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life: How do food and
5PS Intro Thumbnail

Energy from the Sun

Energy in Everyday Life In ordinary language, people speak of “producing” or “using” energy. However, we when we say "produce
5PS_T2_Thumbnail

Matter in the Sea

What is Matter? Matter is everything around you. Matter takes up space and has mass. Even when matter is too
6422
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
   
  A Quest to Understand Aquaculture A.Q.U.A. is an easy-to-follow aquaculture curriculum created to educate residents in Hawaiʻi and U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands about aquaculture. Go to page 22 for the start of the aquaponics background and activity that guides students to develop a large school-sized aquaponics system. 

The Movement of Matter

  Ecosystems are complex, interactive systems that include both biological communities (biotic) and physical (abiotic) components of the environment. Ecosystems are sustained by the continuous flow of energy, originating primarily from the sun, and the recycling of matter and nutrients within the system (Fig. 1).

Trophic Levels

Trophic levels are a way to group species into broad categories based on their energetic, or food resource, contribution to the community.   Only a fraction of energy actually gets transferred from one trophic level to the next. Therefore each successively higher trophic level has less and less energy available (Fig. 2). In a majority of communities, the drop in energy at each trophic levels is reflected as a drop in the relative abundance (number of organisms) and total biomass (amount of living matter per unit area) of organisms representing the different trophic levels. For example, in a terrestrial grassland community, plants are very abundant with high biomass, followed by lower amounts of herbivores like mice, grasshoppers, and deer, and even less of carnivores like owls, foxes, and wolves.    

Food Webs in the Ocean

  In the ocean, food webs can be complex with many overlapping layers (Fig. 3). Plankton are a diverse groups of tiny organisms that live in every part of the ocean. Phytoplankton are primary producers that create and store energy through photosynthesis that is then passed on to other creatures. Phytoplankton form the base of the food web. Zooplankton are animal plankton that do not photosynthesize. A next step in the food web occurs when herbivorous zooplankton, or primary consumers, eat phytoplankton. The herbivores are consumed by carnivores, or secondary consumers, which are then fed upon by successively larger animals. Thus, the energy captured by the primary producers is passed up the food web. When organisms die, decomposers help break down their matter and return it for use by primary producers.   Check out the interactive food web game at the bottom of the page to test your knowledge!

Movement of Matter in a Fish Tank

The rocks in an aquarium play an important role in providing a lot of surface area for beneficial bacteria to live on. These beneficial bacteria are decomposers that help cycle nutrients and matter within a fish tank. The first step in movement of matter within a fish tank is the food fed to the fish—which adds matter to the tank. Fish food contains energy in the form of chemical bonds that make up carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. After the fish eats and digests the food; some of the energy is lost as heat, some of the energy and matter is used to help the fish maintain and grow its body, and the rest of the digested food energy and matter is excreted by the fish.
Fish excrete carbon dioxide (CO2) through their gills. The CO2 released by the fish is used as a carbon source by the algae and plants in the tank. Fish also release energy and nitrogen containing compounds when they poop. The nitrogen released by fish is in the form of ammonia (NH3), which is toxic to fish. However, the bacteria inside the tank help to recycle the nitrogen into usable plant fertilizer. First, ammonia (NH3) is turned into ammonium ion (NH4+) in water and then bacteria convert it into nitrites (NO2–) in a process called nitrification. In the next step, another bacteria converts the nitrites into nitrates (NO3–). The resulting nitrates are then used as fertilizers by aquatic plants and algae.

Using Knowledge of Ecosystem Cycling

Knowledge of food webs and the movement of matter is important to understanding how we can manage and maximize our own food production. With ocean food webs, for example, understanding the connectivity at each level allows fishers to maintain sustainable harvest practices. If they take too much of one type of fish, it can lead to a cascading effect that influences other levels. Aquaponics is another method that sustainably produces food.  
What is Aquaponics? Aquaponics is a system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to raise aquatic animals and grow plants. These two systems work symbiotically to provide ideal conditions in which the animals have clean water and the plants get the proper nutrients. There are lots of designs for aquaponic systems, both large and small scales, but the concept is always the same. Water from the aquaculture system, or fish tank, is pumped to the hydroponic system. This water is rich in nutrients from the fish or animal excretions and the plants readily take them in to use for growth. The water is them recirculated back to the tank, providing clean water for the animals.              

Aquaponic Systems

Aquaponic systems have two main parts; a tank for the aquatic animals and a system for the plants. While aquaculture and hydroponics systems work seperately, combining them allows for the natural flow and cycle of nutrients between plants and animals. Bigger systems are often more complex, requiring pumps and sometimes filters. Smaller systems can work with plant roots simply resting atop the fish tank, absorbing nutrients through the roots that are growing directly into the tank.
Follow the prompts in the interactive game below to learn about food webs in the ocean. You may need to enable Flash, refresh, or change browsers to view the interactive feature below. Note: If you cannot view the entire interactive on your screen, press Ctrl-Minus (-) on a PC and Command-Option-Minus (-) on a Mac to zoom out.
 

Ecosystem Cycling Vocabulary

  • Abiotic: relating to non-living aspects of an environment.
  • Abundance: the relative representation of a species in a particular ecosystem.
  • Aquaponics: any system that combines aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water).
  • Biomass: the total mass of organisms in a given area.
  • Biotic: relating to living features of an environment.
  • Carnivores: animals that feed primarily or exclusively on animal matter.
  • Cascading effect: an inevitable and sometimes unforeseen chain of events due to an act affecting a system.
  • Consumer: an organism requiring complex organic compounds for food which it obtains by preying on other organisms or by eating particles of organic matter.
  • Decomposer: an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms (ex. soil microbes and fungi).
  • Food Web: the combination of many different food chains in a given ecosystem or community that give a more realistic picture of the feeding relationships.
  • Herbivores: animals that eat only plants.
  • Hydroponics: a method of growing plants without soil. In hydroponic systems, nutrient rich waters are delivered directly to plant roots.
  • Photosynthesis: the process by which plants convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, using sunlight as the source of energy.
  • Phytoplankton: the component of plankton consisting of microscopic plants.
  • Plankton: a diverse group of animals (zooplankton) and plants (phytoplankton) that freely drift in the water.
  • Primary consumers: an animal that feeds on primary producers; herbivore.
  • Primary producers: organisms that produce biomass through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis in a community or group of communities.
  • Secondary consumer: a carnivore that feeds only upon herbivores.
  • Trophic level: any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain, as primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers.
  • Zooplankton: the heterotrophic form of plankton.
6421
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
 

LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes How do organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce?

LS1.C Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms: How do organisms obtain and use the matter and energy they need to live and grow? Learning goals by the end of grade 5: Plants acquire their material for growth chiefly from air and water. Plants also need light and minerals to photosynthesize. Plants use matter they have formed through photosynthesis to maintain their internal conditions (e.g., at night). Animals cannot photosynthesize and must take in food. Most animals also need to take in air and water. Anaerobic life, such as bacteria in the gut, functions without air. Food provides animals with the materials they need for body repair and growth and is digested to release the energy they need to maintain body warmth and for motion.

LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics: How and why do organisms interact with their environment and what are the effects of these interactions?

LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: How do organisms interact with the living and nonliving environments to obtain matter and energy? Learning goals by the end of grade 5: Food webs help show how organisms are related. The food of most animals can be traced back to plants. Some animals eat plants for food, and other animals eat animals that eat plants. Both types of animals are called “consumers.” Some organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead plants and animals. These organisms are called “decomposers.” Decomposition eventually restores (recycles) some materials back to the soil for plants to use. Organisms can survive only in environments where their particular needs are met. A healthy ecosystem is one in which multiple species are able to meet their needs in a relatively stable web of life. Newly introduced species can damage the balance of an ecosystem.
LS2.B Cycles of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems: How do matter and energy move through an ecosystem? Learning goals by the end of grade 5: Matter cycles between the air and soil. Matter moves between plants, animals, and microbes as these organisms live and die. Organisms obtain gases, water, and minerals from the environment and release waste matter (gas, liquid, or solid) back into the environment.

Ocean Literacy Principles

Priciple 4: The ocean makes the Earth habitable. Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: The ocean provided, and continues to provide, water, oxygen, and nutrients and moderates the climate needed for life to exist on Earth. (OLP4c) Principle 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems. Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. (OLP5a)
Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. (OLP5b)
Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. (OLP5d)

These concepts will be explored in this unit through the following activities and investigations:

                   
6482
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
5LS_Intro_Thumbnail_Final

Introduction to Movement of Matter and Ecosystem Cycling

LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes How do organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce? LS1.C
5LS T2 Thumbnail

Ecosystem Cycling

A Quest to Understand Aquaculture A.Q.U.A. is an easy-to-follow aquaculture curriculum created to educate residents in Hawaiʻi and U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands
5LST2_Thumbnail

Materials for Plant Growth

What do Plants Need to Grow? Plants are organisms that photosynthesize—they use sunlight as their source of energy for growth
6411
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
ACTIVITY: Echolocating with Dolphins
FURTHER INVESTIGATION: Harmonizing with Humpbacks

  • The activity and further investigation above builds on the content that follows.  In addition, the further investigation expands on the knowledge from the activity.

Information Processing

Fig. 1. Animals, such as humans, are exposed to various stimuli and that information is processed in the brain.

Fig. 1. Animals, such as humans, are exposed to various stimuli and that information is processed in the brain. (Image courtesy of FreePik).

An organism’s ability to sense and respond to its environment enhances its chance of surviving and reproducing. Animals have external and internal sensory receptors that detect different kinds of information, and they use internal mechanisms for processing and storing it (Fig. 1). Each sensory receptor responds to different inputs, such as electromagnetic, mechanical, or chemical. Some sensory receptors respond by transmitting impulses that travel along nerve cells. In complex organisms, most such inputs travel to the brain, which is divided into several distinct regions and circuits that serve particular roles. For example, some functions include visual and auditory perception, interpretation of information, guidance of motor movement, and decision making. In addition, some of the brain’s circuits give rise to emotions and store memories. Different organisms exhibit an array of sensory functions that vary in complexity. For example, marine mammals may process sounds differently than a marine invertebrate, like a sea urchin. Cetaceans, a group of marine mammals that include both baleen and toothed whales, use sounds as a means of communication (Fig. 2).

 

Fig. 2. Cetaceans are a diverse group (about 89 species) of aquatic mammals that are further divided into toothed and baleen whales. Pictured here clockwise from top: sperm whale, Amazon river dolphin, Blainville's beaked whale, southern right whale, narwhal, humpback whale, killer whale, gray whale and harbor porpoise.

Fig. 2. Cetaceans are a diverse group (about 89 species) of aquatic mammals that are further divided into toothed and baleen whales. Pictured here clockwise from top: sperm whale, Amazon river dolphin, Blainville’s beaked whale, southern right whale, narwhal, humpback whale, killer whale, gray whale and harbor porpoise. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Studying Underwater Sounds

Scientists began developing technology to listen to sound underwater in the 1920s (Fig. 3). These devices, called hydrophones, are still the main instruments used to listen to and record underwater sounds today (Fig. 4).

 

Fig. 3. A boat launches the laying of the cable from hydrophone to the shore station for radio acoustic ranging operations.

Fig. 3. A boat launches the laying of the cable from hydrophone to the shore station for radio acoustic ranging operations. (Image courtesy of NOAA).

Fig. 4. Modern hydrophones can be adapted to be used on Kayaks, such as this one pictured here.

Fig. 4. Modern hydrophones can be adapted to be used on Kayaks, such as this one pictured here. (Image courtesy of Flickr).

 

Fig. 5. Sound spectrogram illustrating the range of frequencies in a humpback whale song.

Fig. 5. Sound spectrogram illustrating the range of frequencies in a humpback whale song. (Image courtesy of Spyrogumas, Wikimedia Commons).

Computer programs have been developed to help deconstruct the complex vocalizations made by marine mammals. For example, bioacoustic software programs create spectrograms that allow researchers to visualize the composition and patterns of individual male humpback songs (Fig. 5). Researchers record an individual’s song, and keep track of that individual over many years in order to better understand the reasons behind the vocalizations.

 

 

 

 

Additional Resources

Marine Mammal Communication

Fig. 6. Anatomy of sound production in humans.

Fig. 6. Anatomy of sound production in humans. (Image courtesy of Tavin, Wikimedia Commons).

The most effective means of communication in water is sound. Sound travels over long distances and can move 4.5 times faster in water than in air. Many marine mammals have adaptations for producing and receiving sounds underwater. Sounds are generated when pressure waves travel through air or water. In humans, sound is generated when air is expelled from the lungs and moved through the larynx. The vocal cords in the larynx, along with the throat, tongue, lips, and teeth, change the sound into different vocalizations (Fig 6). The mechanism of sound production in cetaceans is complex and still being studied.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 7. Anatomy of underwater sound production in an odontocete whale

Fig. 7. Anatomy of underwater sound production in an odontocete whale (Image courtesy of Emoscopes, Wikimedia Commons).

Unlike with humans and other marine mammals, cetaceans do not need to exhale air in order to produce sound. Odontocetes, the toothed whales, use echolocation, generating clicks, whistles, and pulses in the nasal system. Mysticetes, the baleen whales, produce very low frequency sounds similar to groans, thumps, moans, and pulses. Cetaceans do not have an external ear structure to receive sounds and no opening to the ear canal. Scientists have evidence that sound vibrations pass through the skin and then are focused through the bones and fats in the skull to the inner ear (Fig. 7).

 

Dolphin Echolocation

Fig. 2. A dolphin sends out a sound and interprets the echo to know if the object is a prey item.

Fig. 2. A dolphin sends out a sound and interprets the echo to know if the object is a prey item. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Echolocation, or biological sonar, is used by mammals, like bats and toothed whales, to process information about their environment. To echolocate, the animal sends out a series of clicks or whistles, receives returning echos that have bounced off of the object, and then processes those echos  (Fig. 8). The processed return signal gives information about the distance, shape, and other characteristics of the object. Scientists think of it as creating an image that allows the animal to ‘see’ further than their eyes are able. A dolphin, for example, relies on echolocation to find prey, identify each other, and communicate. Scientists have discovered that each dolphin has its own signature whistle that is unique to them.

 

Humans also use echolocation. Fisherpeople use electronic echolocation devices to help locate fish—often, these devices are called fish finders! Scientists use devices that produce sound which bounces off the bottom of the ocean to receive information about the structure of the ocean floor — this method is called sonar and the study of the ocean floor is called bathymetry. Some blind individuals have learned to use echolocation to sense details of the environment both passively or actively using clicks. Although sighted people use their vision to navigate their surroundings, studies have shown that they can also learn to use echolocation with training.

Additional Resources:

Humpback Whale Songs

Fig. 9. Humpback whales use sound to communicate for a variety of reasons. A male is pictured here in the singing position (head down, tail up).

Fig. 9. Humpback whales use sound to communicate for a variety of reasons. A male is pictured here in the singing position (head down, tail up). (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Humpback whales are famous for their complex song (Fig. 9). Only males sing, and singing is heard most often during mating season, but singing can also be heard in breeding grounds and in feeding grounds. The singer is usually alone in a head-down, tailup position. If the singer is following a cow and calf pair, he is called an escort. When another whale joins in on the song, he is called a joiner. Humpback whales do not have vocal cords. They produce sounds by pushing air through tubes and chambers in their respiratory system. Whale researchers study patterns on spectrograms to learn about why whales sing, and how they react to other whales around them. Hypotheses exist as to why whales sing, but researchers do not know the absolute reason. It is thought that males sing as a way to communicate their location to other males, attract females, navigate, find food, and communicate with each other.

VOICE OF THE SEA: Whale Communication
TRADITIONAL WAYS OF KNOWING: Humpback Whales

Noise Pollution

Scientists also study whale songs to learn how noise pollution caused by people may affect the behavior of whales. Our knowledge of the biology of marine mammals is still growing, although very little is known about the hearing capabilities of cetaceans. Current research at the Marine Mammal Research Program at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology is attempting to characterize the hearing frequency ranges of these animals to better understand how anthropogenic underwater noise pollution might affect them.  Ship engines, military sonar, and explosions used by oil and construction companies cause loud sounds under water that may cause changes in the whales’ behavior (Fig. 10). The physical effects of intense noise pollution can include hemorrhaging of the brain, lungs, inner ear, and eyes causing severe impairment in acoustic communication and other essential behaviors.

Fig. 10. Human produced, or anthropogenic, noise pollution can be harmful to a nearby whale and interrupt it's own ability to communicate.

Fig. 10. Human produced, or anthropogenic, noise pollution can be harmful to a nearby whale and interrupt it’s own ability to communicate. (Image courtesy of NOAA).

Below is a list of sources of anthropogenic underwater noise pollution that are thought to be detrimental to marine mammals causing any, or all the physical damage previously described.

Types of Sound Pollution Description
Low Frequency Active Sonar (LFAS) This type of high-intensity sonar was designed by the military to track and detect submarines and other covert machines that operate underwater. The intensity of this sonar is in the 180–240 decibel range. This is equivalent in air to being 7 meters (20 feet) away from a rocket at takeoff. A large percentage of marine mammal carcasses being collected from beach strandings show signs of hearing damage, showing evidence that many mammals that strand may be doing so in response to hearing damage. Many recorded mass strandings have occurred during naval testing of LFAS.
Air guns Used for underwater exploration and monitoring of oil reserves as well as geophysical research, and often operate for long periods of time, producing frequent bursts. Sperm whales and blue whales that were located as far away as 370 kilometers (230 miles) from the air gun reportedly stopped vocalizing for up to 36 hours in response to the noise. Strandings have also been documented in close vicinity to these machines.
Shipping Cargo ships produce constant low frequency noises from their propellers that fall within the same frequency range that many whales use to communicate over long distances. The effects of shipping noise are hard to quantify because shipping vessels are very frequent in the world’s oceans. Some scientists, however, are concerned that interference from shipping noise could have large scale population level effects in the ability of individuals to communicate with each other over long distances.

 

For More Information on noise pollution,check out NOAA’s Soundcheck on Ocean Noise

 

Information Processing Vocabulary

  • Anthropogenic: Originating in human activity (typically environmental pollution).
  • Baleen: The internal feeding structure of baleen whales composed of a protein similar to human fingernails that hangs from the upper jaws of the whale’s mouth; functions to sieve through water and trap small food particles. See mysticetes.
  • Bathymetry: The study of underwater depth of ocean floors or lake floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to topography on land.
  • Bioacoustics: The study of how animals use sound for communication and echolocation.
  • Cetacean: Large aquatic marine mammals, such as baleen and toothed whales and porpoises. Cetaceans have tails rather than hind limbs, and they have flippers instead of forearms.
  • Communication: The exchange of messages or information through speech, signals, writing, or behavior.
  • Cow: The female of certain large animals, for example elephant, rhinoceros, whale, or seal.
  • Echolocation: The ability of animals to examine their surroundings using sound waves they produce that bounce off objects and are received back and interpreted.
  • Hydrophone: An underwater microphone used to listen to, and record, whale song sounds.
  • Joiner: A lone male humpback whale engaged in a singing behavior in response to another singer.
  • Mysticetes: Baleen whales, which are large whales that feed using a filtering mechanism made up of baleen plates, for example humpback, gray, and blue whales.
  • Odontocetes: Toothed whales; there are 73 species of toothed whales, including dolphins and porpoises as well as beaked, sperm, and orca whales.
  • Singer: A lone male humpback whale engaged in a singing behavior.
  • Sonar: stands for Sound Navigation and Ranging;  A technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect objects on or under the surface of the water, such as other vessels.
  • Spectrogram: A visual representation of the frequencies of a signal as it varies with time. When applied to an audio signal, spectrograms are sometimes called sonographs, voiceprints, or voicegrams.
  • Toothed Whales: See odontocetes.
  • Underwater noise pollution: Human-caused noise, created for example by ships, recreational boats, oil drilling, near-shore construction, and research and military defense sonar.
 
6410
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
  • This activity builds on the following content
ACTIVITY: Structure to Function: Hungry Reef Fish

Structure and Function

A central feature of life is that organisms grow, reproduce, and die. Organisms have unique characteristic structures, functions, and behaviors. Coral reefs are ecosystems that provide examples of specific structures, or body designs, that serve designated functions. The reef  structure creates numerous and varying habitats that allow a variety of organisms to exist and fulfill roles, or niches, in the reef community. Fish and other animals in the reef habitat have evolved various feeding methods and body structures that allow them to survive and thrive in reef environments.

FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS: Fish Life

Reef Fish Feeding

Fig. 1. Reef ecosystems provide complex structures for fish to live in, around, or atop. Specialized feeding strategies help each fish survive in this competetive environment. 

Fig. 1. Reef ecosystems provide complex structures for fish to live in, around, or atop. Specialized feeding strategies help each fish survive in this competetive environment. (Image courtesy of Andrew Gray/NOAA, Flikr).


There are many sizes, shapes, and colors of reef fishes living in coral reef habitats (Fig. 1). Fishes have a variety of methods and adaptations for feeding, depending on the area of the reef they inhabit and the composition of their diet. Reef fishes live in areas above the reef, on the surface of the reef, in reef crevices and caves, and on the sandy bottom near the reef. Reef fishes often have special mouth features to help them feed—which they use to feed in specific style and eat a particular type of food.

 

 

 

 

 

Herbivores feed on marine plants called algae. Algae usually grow on the surface of the reef; some fishes even farm their own algae beds. Herbivores have mouth forms and teeth designed to scrape the algae off of rocks and coral. Reef fish that eat zooplankton, invertebrates, and other fish are called carnivores. Carnivores have unique mouth forms and teeth, depending on the type of animal they eat (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. The long teeth of the barracuda help this carnivore eat.

Fig. 2. The long teeth of the barracuda help this carnivore eat. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia).


Some carnivores have small mouths useful for plucking zooplankton from the water column. Other carnivores have large mouths that help engulf their prey, allowing the fish to swallow its prey whole. Many carnivores have unique mouth features that help them feed in a particular area of the reef, or on a particular type of prey. For example, the longnose butterflyfish has a very long snout that helps it probe into deep crevices to find worms and other invertebrates (Fig. 3); the goatfish has structures hanging from its lower jaw (barbels) that help it dig in the sand to find

Feeding Structures

Some of the unique modifications in mouth shapes and body features found in common Hawaiian reef fishes are described below:

Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae):

Fig. 3. The long nose of this butterfly fish allows it to crab food in small crevices.

Fig. 3. The long nose of this butterfly fish allows it to crab food in small crevices. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia).


These brightly colored reef fish have very short, small mouths that allow them to graze on algae growing on the reef. butterfly fishes also eat small invertebrates like coral polyps and anemones. Butterfly fishes are considered omnivores. However, some butterfly fish have very specialized, long snouts they use to reach into the coral and eat coral polyps (e.g., Longnose butterfly fish, lauwiliwilinukunukuoi‘oi) (Fig. 3).

 

 

 

 

 

Damselfishes (Pomacentridae):

Fig. 4. Damselfish have a slightly upturned and large mouth compared to their body size to slurp in plankton from the water.

Fig. 4. Damselfish have a slightly upturned and large mouth compared to their body size to slurp in plankton from the water. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia).


Damselfish are often found in small groups hovering right above the reef in search of tiny animals and plants floating in the plankton. They have short snouts but relatively big mouths that allow them to suck the plankton out of the water column (e.g., sergeant major fish, mamo, Fig. 4). Many damselfishes are also gardners of algae; the fish weed out algae they dislike and protect the algae they prefer to eat.

 

 

 

 

 

Moray Eels (Muraenidae); puhi:

Fig. 5. Eels have rows of teeth to help them grab and hang on to speedy fish that swim by.

Fig. 5. Eels have rows of teeth to help them grab and hang on to speedy fish that swim by. (Image courtesy of Betty Wills, Wikimedia Commons).


Eels are carnivorous ambush predators that wait in cracks and crevices in the reef to capture passing prey. Eels possess big sharp teeth and have large mouths (Fig. 5).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goatfishes (Mullidae); weke‘ā:

Fig. 6. A school of goatfish swim along the reefs in Niʻihau. When they feed, they scrounge the bottom sediment using the barbels on the bottom of their mouths.

Fig. 6. A school of goatfish swim along the reefs in Niʻihau. When they feed, they scrounge the bottom sediment using the barbels on the bottom of their mouths. (Image courtesy of Andrew Grey/NOAA Fisheries).


Goatfishes have mouths on the bottom of their snouts. Goatfishes also have two barbels, or feelers, for tasting and searching the sandy bottom for worms and other soft-bodied invertebrates that live in the sand (Fig. 6).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parrotfishes (Scaridae); uhu:

Fig. 7. This parrotfish from the North Western Hawaiian Islands has teeth-like structures that allow it to scrape algae off the substrate.

Fig. 7. This parrotfish from the North Western Hawaiian Islands has teeth-like structures that allow it to scrape algae off the substrate. (Image courtesy of NOAA, Wikimedia Commons).


Parrotfishes have large teeth that are fused together and strong jaws to enable them to scrape algae and coral from the reef. Parrotfishes are primarily herbivores (Fig 7).

 

 

 

 

 

TEACHER GUIDE: Absurd Creature: Parrotfish

 

Body Structures for Defense

Life on a reef can be dangerous for many organisms—because there is always the chance that a predator may be lurking. The evolution of defense structures has resulted in many unique features that help reef organisms survive. Examples of defense structures in common Hawaiian reef fishes, and associated reef organisms, follow:

Fig. 8. A whitespotted surgeonfish (at Hanauma Bay) has a hidden spine at the base of the body.

Fig. 8. A whitespotted surgeonfish (at Hanauma Bay) has a hidden spine at the base of the body. (Image courtesy of Steve Ryan, Wikimedia Commons).


Surgeonfishes are named for the knifelike spines, or scalpels, on either side of the base of their tails. One swipe of the tail can slash an enemy or intruder (Fig. 8).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 9a. An x-ray image of a longnose butterfly fish show off the hidden spines.

Fig. 9a. An x-ray image of a longnose butterfly fish show off the hidden spines. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).

Fig. 9b. The false eye spot on this butterflyfish might confuse a predator.

Fig. 9b. The false eye spot on this butterflyfish might confuse a predator. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterflyfishes have many spines disguised in their fins. They use very vivid coloration to announce their potential danger to a predator or enemy (Fig. 9a). Many different types of butterflyfishes, like the millet seed butterfly fish (lauwiliwili), also have big false eye spots near their tails to confuse predators concerning their actual size (Fig. 9b).

Fig. 10. This porcupine fish is displaying itʻs defenses after being accidentally caught.

Fig. 10. This porcupine fish is displaying itʻs defenses after being accidentally caught. (Image courtesy of NOAA).


Porcupine pufferfishes not only inflate their bodies with water to avoid being eaten, but they also have large spikes that poke out from their bodies to prevent capture (Fig. 10).

Fig. 11. This scorpionfish is a master of disguise. 

Fig. 11. This scorpionfish is a master of disguise. (Image courtesy of Taylor Williams/NOAA Fisheries).


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scorpionfishes use coloration to blend into their habitat, effectively hiding themselves by looking like a part of the reef. Because these fish are ambush predators, they also use this advantage to capture unknowing prey. Scorpionfishes also have poisonous spines in their fins (Fig. 11).

Fig. 12. Nudibranchs are often brightly colored and elaborate organisms.

Fig. 12. Nudibranchs are often brightly colored and elaborate organisms. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons).


 

 

 

 

Sea snails and nudibranchs use bright coloration patterns to warn potential predators that they may taste bad or are poisonous (Fig. 12).

Fig. 13. This coral polyp found in Hawaii has hidden stinging cells used for defense and food capture.

Fig. 13. This coral polyp found in Hawaii has hidden stinging cells used for defense and food capture. (Image courtesy of Narissa Spies, Wikimedia Commons).


 

 

 

 

Corals also have specialized defense mechanisms called nematocysts. Nematocysts are stinging cells that are released when the coral is harassed by predators. Since corals cannot move or shake off any sediment or other particles that may fall on them, they also continually shed mucous to slough off anything that might try to settle on them (Fig. 13).

Fig. 14. This crab uses anemones stuck to its shell as added defense.

Fig. 14. This crab uses anemones stuck to its shell as added defense. (Image courtesy of Nick Hobgood, Wikimedia Commons).


 

 

 

Crabs have large claws that they use to defend themselves against predators. Crabs also use their claws to catch food. Certain types of hermit crabs often keep anemones on their shells for protection (Fig. 14).

 

 

 

 

Fig. 15. This anemone resembles a coral polyp and has the same defensive stinging cells called nematocysts.

Fig. 15. This anemone resembles a coral polyp and has the same defensive stinging cells called nematocysts. (Image courtesy of NOAA).


 

Anemones have special stinging cells in their tentacles, just like corals. When a predator tries to eat the hermit crab, it gets a mouthful of nematocysts instead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VOICE OF THE SEA: Strange Fish of The Deep
 

Adaptations Vocabulary

  • Algae: simple one-celled or many-celled aquatic plants that lack true roots and leaves.
  • Ambush predator: an organism that hides and waits for prey to pass, rather than actively chasing prey.
  • Barbel: a whisker-like organ near the mouth found in some fish. The structure and function of barbels varies.
  • Carnivore: an animal that feeds on other animals.
  • Function: an adaptation that contributes to evolutionary fitness.
  • Herbivore: animals that eat plants.
  • Nematocysts: a specialized cell in the tentacles of jellyfish, corals, and related organisms. Nematocysts contain barbed and venomous coiled threads that can be projected in self-defense or to capture prey.
  • Niche: the ecological role of an organism in a community.
  • Omnivore: animals that eat both plants and animals.
  • Prey: organism that is caught and eaten by a predator.
  • Structure: the arrangement of and relation between the parts of something complex.
  • Zooplankton: animal plankton, consisting of small animals and the immature stages of larger animals.
 
 
6409
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes:
How do organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce?

LS1.A: Structure and Function: How do the structures of organisms enable life’s functions?

Learning goals by the end of grade 5: Plants and animals have both internal and external structures that serve various functions in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. (Boundary: Stress at this grade level is on understanding the macroscale systems and their function, not microscopic processes.)

LS1.D: Information Processing: How do organisms detect, process, and use information about the environment?

Learning goals by the end of grade 5: Different sense receptors are specialized for particular kinds of information, which may then be processed and integrated by an animal’s brain, with some information stored as memories. Animals are able to use their perceptions and memories to guide their actions. Some responses to information are instinctive—that is, animals’ brains are organized so that they do not have to think about how to respond to certain stimuli.

Ocean Literacy Principles

Principle 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. (OLP5a)

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. (OLP5d)

Principle 6: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concept: Humans affect the ocean in a variety of ways. Laws, regulations, and resource management affect what is taken out and put into the ocean. Human development and activity leads to pollution (point source, non-point source, and noise pollution), changes to ocean chemistry (ocean acidification), and physical modifications (changes to beaches, shores, and rivers). In addition, humans have removed most of the large vertebrates from the ocean. (OLP6d)

 

These concepts will be explored in this unit through the following activities and investigations:

ACTIVITY: Structure to Function: Hungry Reef Fish
ACTIVITY: Echolocating with Dolphins

 

 

6479
  • OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

    Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.

  • OLP 5.D

    Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land.

OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest living things, microbes, to the largest animal on Earth, blue whales. Most of the organisms and biomass in the ocean are microbes, which are the basis of all ocean food webs. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. They have extremely fast growth rates and life cycles, and produce a huge amount of the carbon and oxygen on Earth. Most of the major groups that exist on Earth are found exclusively in the ocean and the diversity of major groups of organisms is much greater in the ocean than on land. Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations, and important relationships among organisms (symbiosis, predator-prey dynamics, and energy transfer) that do not occur on land. The ocean provides a vast living space with diverse and unique ecosystems from the surface through the water column and down to, and below, the seafloor. Most of the living space on Earth is in the ocean. Ocean ecosystems are defined by environmental factors and the community of organisms living there. Ocean life is not evenly distributed through time or space due to differences in abiotic factors such as oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, light, nutrients, pressure, substrate, and circulation. A few regions of the ocean support the most abundant life on Earth, while most of the ocean does not support much life. There are deep ocean ecosystems that are independent of energy from sunlight and photosynthetic organisms. Hydrothermal vents, submarine hot springs, and methane cold seeps, rely only on chemical energy and chemosynthetic organisms to support life. Tides, waves, predation, substrate, and/or other factors cause vertical zonation patterns along the coast; density, pressure, and light levels cause vertical zonation patterns in the open ocean. Zonation patterns influence organisms’ distribution and diversity. Estuaries provide important and productive nursery areas for many marine and aquatic species.
OLP 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
4LS_Intro_Thumbnail

Introduction to Adaptations and Life Strategies

Next Generation Science Standards for Life Sciences
  • 4-LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
  • 4-LS1-2 Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.
Ocean Literacy Principals for Life Sciences
  • OLP 1: The earth has one big ocean with many features
  • OLP 2: The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth
4LS_T1_Thumbnail

Structure to Function

Activities: Special Features:
4LS_T2_Thumbnail

Information Processing

Activities:
  • ACTIVITY: Echolocating with Dolphins
Special Features:
  • FURTHER INVESTIGATION: Harmonizing with Humpbacks
  • TRADITIONAL WAYS OF KNOWING: Humpback Whales
  • VOICE OF THE SEA: Whale Communication