OCEANS & MARINE LIFEA look at marine ecosystems

Scientists believe that life on Earth began in the ocean, approximately 4 billion years ago. 500 million years ago creatures crawled out of the ocean onto land. Ocean life has existed 8x longer than terrestrial life.

The ocean is critical to life on earth.

In the process of photosynthesis, the primary producers (phytoplankton) absorb the CO2, keeps the organic carbon and releases the oxygen. This process makes it possible for the ocean waters to absorb the CO2 from the atmosphere.

Chlorophyl is the green pigment found in most producers. It is critical in photosynthesis as it absorbs the light energy from the sun.

Through photosynthesis, primary producers or plants absorb CO2, H2O, and light energy to create carbohydrate (organic carbon) and oxygen. Consumers breath in the oxygen that plants produce through the process of photosynthesis and absorb the organic carbon and other nutrients by eating the plants. These are then converted into energy through the process of respiration. CO2 is produced through respiration.

Plants and animals need carbon (carbohydrate & other nutrients) to survive. The carbon is converted into energy. For example, humans eat organic carbon in the form of vegetables like green beans and meat like chicken. It has to be organic carbon because inorganic carbon, like diamonds, cannot be eaten.

How do organisms get organic carbon?

Marine food web for the Arctic. Phytoplankton generate organic carbon through photosynthetic reactions. Phytoplankton are eaten

by the zooplankton, who are in turn eaten by fish, on up to large marine mammals. Organic carbon that settles to the sea floor is

usually consumed by marine organisms there.

Diatoms are one of the most common types of phytoplankton.

Diagrams of some typical phytoplankton

Zooplanktons

Ocean Zones

Creating a Tabletop Aquatic Ecosystem

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-your-own-aquatic-tabletop-biosphere-mason-jar-425412/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_WWG9rTUyI

Creating a Tabletop Aquatic Ecosystem

http://cdn.makezine.com/make/wp_aquanaut.pdf

What possible problems can you think of that could affect the balance of an ecosystem such as the marine ecosystem?