marine biology exam 2
White zone:
in TRS supralittoral fringe zone, the true border between the land and the sea, highest
scale leaves
in sea grass, short leaves that protect the delicate growing tips of rhizomes
zone of saturation:
in the midlittoral zone, constantly moist; supports greatest diversity of organisms
zone of retention:
in the midlittoral zone, retains moisture at low tide because of capillary action of water, inhabited by isopod crustaceans worldwide
zone of resurgence:
in the midlittoral zone, water is retained at low tide, supports crustaceans, polychaete worms
Structure of seagrasses
3 basic parts: stems, roots and leaves
percent mangroves lost in Tampa bay
60%
How much of the atmosphere is nitrogen?
78%
sea grass loss in Tampa bay
80% lost in the past 125 years
barnacle populations may be as dense as...
9,000 individuals/m2
micronutrients in estuaries
<1 ppm iron, copper, zinc, manganese
to avoid wave shock...
Animals exhibit compressed or dorsally flattened bodies or shells and Methods for adhering tightly to rock
ice rafting
As a glacier slides very slowly down the slope of a mountain, the ice grinds and gouges off the rock under it, These rock particles are either trapped up under the ice or be pushed down the slope in front of the ice, Much of this sediment carried down the mountain will become frozen into the ice of the glacier
Sediment Deposition by Iceberg Melting
As the iceberg melts, the sediment frozen into the ice is dropped and deposits on the sea floor, This sediment is not distributed according to sediment size as was the case with water transported sediment. Instead ice rafting scatters sediment in a random pattern
seasonal visitors
move in for breeding
tidal visitors
move in with the tide
sounds for protection
•Scare off other animals • Defend territories
Salinity in estuaries
0-35 ppt, varies
Temp in estuaries
large range
sea grass roots
•arise from nodes of stems and anchor plants •usually bear root hairs—cellular extensions •Absorb mineral nutrients •allow interaction with bacteria in sediments
sea grass stems
•have cylindrical internodes (sections) separated by nodes (rings) •vertical stems arise from rhizomes, usually have short internodes, and grow upward toward the sediment surface •grow slowly ensuring leaf production keeps up with sediment accumulation
How do fish produce sound?
•stridulation •drumming •hydrodynamics
main zones of tropical rocky shores
- supralittoral fringe - midlittoral fringe - infralittoral fringe - sub tidal
ecological role of sea grass
-highly productive on local scale - primary producers - stablize sediment
resident species adaptation
-small size; - absent, reduced or firmly attached scales; - compressed/elongate body shape; -absent/reduced swim bladder; -greater body density -tolerant of temp/salinity changes, - some can leave the water to feed
sea grass reproduction
-some use fragmentation, drifting and re-rooting and do not flower -inconspicuous flowers are usually either male or female and borne on separate plants -hydrophilous pollination -a few species produce seedlings on the mother plant (viviparity)
The distribution of oozes on the sea floor is related to
-the abundance of organisms in the surface photic zone -the rate at which the organisms dissolve when they sink through the water column, -the depth at which they settle on the seafloor, -the dilution with other forms of sediment
Meiofauna pass though a _____ screen but are retained by a _____ screen
0.55 mm, 65 mm
Why Produce Sound (Spawn) at Night?
1. Avoid being eaten 2. Better protection for eggs (planktonic eggs) 3. Does not take away from feeding 4. Spawn for longer periods of time
sediment groups
1. Terrigenous Sediment 2. Biogenous 3. Hydrogenous 4. Volcanogenous 5. Cosmogenous Sediment
Terrigenous sediments are transported to the sea by one of three main transporting agents or types of erosion:
1. river transport 2. wind 3. ice rafting
Three factors to determine the maturity of a sediment
1. the degree of rounding of the particles 2. the degree of sorting of the particles by size 3. the amount of clay in the sediment
What Affects Fish Spawning?
1. time of day 2. time of year 3. environmental conditions
Classification and distribution of seagrasses
12 genera in 5 families of 3 clades (groups with a common ancestor)
sea grass in Tampa Bay has increased since
1980s
Zone system for rocky shore proposed by
Alan and Anne Stephenson
Osmoconformers
An organism that allows its internal salt concentration to change with the salinity of the surrounding water
mud flats
Bottoms of estuaries exposed at low tides, A wide variety of organisms live in and on mud
anthropogenic factors of eutrophication
CO2, run off, leaching/dumping
detritus
Dead organic matter, basis of estuarine food webs
oyster reef
Extensive beds form on muddy bottom and create hard substrate for other organisms
longshore current
a water current that travels near and parallel to the shoreline
Tide Pools
depressions in the rocks which retain water during low tide
rocky shore location
Found from California to Alaska on the west coast and from Cape Cod northward on the east coast of North America
salt marsh
Grassy area extend inland from mudflats and partially flooded at high tide,Also called wetlands
little wave action =
fine sediments
Meiofauna:
tiny organisms living in spaces between sediment particles.
seagrass community grass examples
Include eelgrass, turtlegrass, and cordgrass
rocky shore biodiversity
More dense and have greater diversity of algae and animals than sand/mud intertidal regions
why use sound in estuaries?
Moves very fast in water - 5 times faster than in air Travels very far Do not have to be in sight of each other Can communicate at night - avoid being eaten Each animal makes a different sound - can tell each other apart
salt marsh plants are...
Much less adapted to marine life than seagrasses; must be exposed to air by ebbing tide
nitrogen
N2, primary component of the atmosphere
Siliceous Oozes
Ocean waters are undersaturated with silica, so siliceous tests dissolve at all depths, most rapidly in warm, shallow water
river deltas
Once a river flows into the sea, there is no longer a slope for gravity to move the water and all the remaining sediment particles settle to the sea floor.
organic phosphate
PO4 contributes negative charge important link in organic tissues (phospholipids, phosphoproteins, nucleic acids)
hydrodynamics
Quickly changing speed and direction
Subtidal zone (TRS)
Relatively barren compared to subtidal zone in temperate climates
Infralittoral fringe (TRS) organisms
Sargassum and turf algae, Boring urchins, anemones, sponges, bryozoans, sea cucumbers, keyhole limpets
Small, turf-forming red algae dominate which zone
Subtidal zone in tropical rocky shores
Infralittoral fringe (TRS)
Surf zone includes the edge of the lower rocky platform and parts of the reef
Liebig's Law
The growth and reproduction of an organism are determined by the nutrient substance that is available in minimum quantity with respect to the organic need
carbon cycle
The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again
how do we measure sound underwater?
Underwater microphones called hydrophones, data loggers
drumming
Using muscles on or near their swim bladder
biogenous ooze
When sea floor sediment is composed of more than 30% biogenous material by weight, either a siliceous ooze or a carbonate ooze depending on the predominant form of material found in the sediment
iceberg formation
When the glacier reaches the sea, the ice pushes out over the water, then breaks off with a booming sound and a large chunk of ice falls into the sea, ice bergs are formed from land glaciers
Fine sand beaches have __________ abundance of organisms
a greater
rip current
a rush of water that flows rapidly back to sea through a narrow opening
groin
a structure built of large rocks placed out in the water at right angles to the shoreline
Oolite
a type hydrogenous sediment formed from calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in warm, shallow productive waters. small round pellets that make up limestone sediment
facultative halophyte
adapter to fresh and saltwater
tillers:
additional stems produced by a culm at its base, gives a tufted appearance (cordgrass)
limpets and chitons graze on...
algae at high tide
rock urchins actively feed on...
algae during high tide but retreat to depressions in rock when tide recedes
tide pool organisms
algae, sea stars, anemones, tube worms, hermit crabs, molluscs, many are filter feeders
eutrophication leads to
algal blooms
aerenchyme
allows diffusion of oxygen from blades to rhizomes and roots
mangrove distribution
along tropical shores with limited wave action, a subtle slope (for sediment build up), high rate of sedimentation
vertical sandy shore zonation depends on....
amount of water trapped at each level
keystone predator
an animal that is responsible for maintaining species diversity within an area
bar-built estuary
an estuary / shallow lagoon separated from the open ocean by a bar deposit such as a barrier island
tectonic estuary
an estuary formed when a depression along a fault line fills with water (e.g. San Francisco Bay)
salt wedge estuary
an estuary that occurs when the mouth of a river flows directly into salt water
partially mixed estuary
an estuary with a strong surface flow of freshwater and a strong influx of seawater, equal
nerites
an exclusively tropical group of SNAILS that tends to replace limpets in higher intertidal zones
accidental visitors
are trapped by storms
supralittoral (maritime) zone of rocky shores:
area above high water that may extend several miles inland
tropics geographical location
areas between 23.4 degrees north and south latitudes
when are marine sounds loudest?
at night
sequence and final structure can vary depending on...
availability (seasonality) of plant propagules and larvae
denitrifying bacteria
bacteria which often live in damp soil, and which convert nitrates into nitrogen gas
what type of estuary is cape cod?
bar built
upper midlittoral zone orgs (RS)
barnacles and rock barnacles, barnacles permanently attach to surfaces and are common on shores pounded by heavy waves
Methods for adhering tightly to rock include
barnacles cement themselves, limpets, chitons and snails have enlarged foot for attachment, sea stars use tube feet, rock urchins hollow out cavities, mussels attach with byssal threads, intertidal algae are flexible and attach with holdfast organ
yellow zone orgs
barnacles, limpets, fuzzy chitons, rock snails, irregular worm snails
Infauna:
benthic organisms living in the sediments
Epifauna:
benthic organisms living on the ocean bottom
which zone lacks the knobby periwinkle
black zone
role of seagrasses in depositing and stabilizing sediments
blades act as baffles to reduce water velocity, decay of plant parts contributes organic matter, rhizomes and roots help stabilize the bottom, reduce turbidity
red mangrove salt features
block salts at roots
common estuary birds
blue heron, cormorant, brown pelican, wood stork, roseate spoonbill
breakwater
built along parallel to the beach, again with large rocks.
jetty
built from large rocks placed out at right angles to the beach, but this time they are placed on one or both sides of an inlet or pass out to the open sea.
The two main chemicals that make up biogenous sediments
calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and silicate (SiO2).
what element is fundamental to all living things?
carbon
the most predominant of the biogenous sediments
carbonate ooze
black mangrove location
closer to land than red, farther away than white
white mangrove location
closest to land
heavy wave action =
coarse sediments
grain size affects on meiofauna
coarse-grain sediments have greater interstitial volume that allows larger organisms to move between the particles, fine-grain sediments have less space and exhibit more burrowing forms
water circulation effects on meiofauna
fine sediments can inhibit water flow and produce anoxic conditions
what type of estuary is Tampa Bay?
coastal plain
Types of Estuaries
coastal plain, fjord, bar-built, tectonic
dominant biological factor in the organization of intertidal communities
competition for space
where is oolite found?
continental shelf, warm water
Ecological roles of salt marsh plants
contribute heavily to detrital food chains, stabilize coastal sediments and prevent shoreline erosion, serve as refuge, feeding ground and nursery for other marine organisms, rhizomes of cordgrass help recycle phosphorus through transport from bottom sediments to leaves, remove excess nutrients from runoff, are consumed by (at least in part) by crabs and terrestrial animals (e.g. insects)
what gives the pink zone its color?
coralline algae
salt marsh plants include:
cordgrasses (true grasses), needlerushes, various shrubs and herbs, e.g., saltwort, glassworts
role of seagrasses as habitat,
create 3-dimensional space with greatly increased area on which other organisms can settle, hide, graze or crawl, the young of many commercial species of fish and shellfish live in seagrass beds
Rainstorms can flood intertidal tide pools __________ salinity and evaporation on hot days ________ salinity
decreasing, increasing
density in estuaries
denser water (salty and cold) found at the bottom
lugworms
deposit feeders that leave coiled, cone-shaped casts during low tide
Organisms in rocky shore intertidal communities must be able to withstand...
desiccation (the process of drying out), searing heat, and freezing, temp and salinity changes, pounded by waves
Productivity of estuary comes from...
detritovores, sediment dumps from rivers, filter feeders
The most abundant groups that form biogenous sediment
diatoms and coccoliths among the plant kingdom
usual sequence of succession:
diatoms or filamentous algae followed by perennial species of red algae followed by barnacles and mussels
Types of beaches:
dissipative, reflective
diversity is greatest when ..
disturbance prevents dominant competitors from excluding other species and allows less successful competitors to become established
Relationship Between Tides and the Activity of Midlittoral Organisms
during high tide, bivalves project their siphons to filter feed and bathe their gills, carnivorous snails hunt bivalves, echinoderms emerge in search of food, mole crabs and coquinas move with the tide, filter-feeding predators come in with the tide
passive margin example
east coast
Animals of the midlittoral zone(sandy)
echinoderms, snails, lugworms
1 clade sea grass
eelgrasses and surf grasses
propagule
embryonic plant that grows on the parent plant
the beach down stream from the breakwater experiences _________
erosion
salt marsh example
everglades
black mangrove salt features
excrete salt on leaves
Adaptations of salt marsh plants to a saline environment
facultative halophytes—tolerate salty as well as fresh water, leaves covered by a thick cuticle to retard water loss, well-developed vascular tissues for efficient water transport, Spartina alterniflora have salt glands, secrete salt to outside, shrubs and herbs have succulent parts
climax community
final stage in ecological succession
managnese nodules
fist-size accretions of the black metal manganese (Mg). also contain large amounts of nickel and cobalt.
Mangrove reproduction
flowers pollinated by wind and bees. viviparous, have propagules
ecological roles of mangroves
food, habitat, erosion control ex) root system stabilize sediment epiphytes live on aerial roots canopy houses insects and birds mangals are nursery for fish eaten by animals contribute to detrital food chain
sea weed mats
form in midlittoral zone of rocky shores when the tide goes out, trap water and provide haven for sea stars, brittle stars, sea urchins and bryozoans, reducing stress of increased temperature and desiccation on these animals
Cosmogenous sediments
form out in space when meteorites move into our atmosphere and burn, leaving small iron-containing fragments called Tektites.
Coastal Plain
form when sea levels rise and drown lowlands and river mouths. aka- drowned river mouths
Biogenous sediments
formed from the remains of biological organisms
fjord estuary
former glaciated valley now flooded with seawater
Red Mangrove location
furthest out in the water
where does siliceous ooze occur
generally occur in COLD regions of high surface productivity, such as the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
white mangrove salt
glands at the base of leaves excrete salt
Wentworth Scale order
gravel, sand, silt, clay
man-made structures that will interrupt the movement of sand along a coastline
groins, jetties, breakwaters, river dams
rockweeds (brown algae) in midlittoral zone (RS)
grow on rocks without full exposure to the sea, do not tolerate large waves
Rocky Shores are composed of
hard materials
Tides in Estuaries
have a strong influence, creates tidal current with in the estuary
plants in the sea in estuaries
have few competitors and form single species habitats
why is there a lack of larger algae in higher zones of tropical rocky shores
herbivory
white zone organisms
hermit crabs, isopods, knobby periwinkles are common
macronutrients in estuaries
higher concentrations carbon, nitrate, phosphate, silicate
rhizomes
horizontal stems with long internodes with growth zones at the tips, usually lying in sand or mud
vegetative growth
how sea grass grows, growth by extension and branching of horizontal stems (rhizomes) from which vertical stems and leaves arise
Seagrasses are...
hydrophytes (generally live beneath the water
yellow zone
in TRS midlittoral fringe, microscopic boring algae covering its surface give it a yellow or green color
Pink zone
in TRS midlittoral fringe, sometimes underlies the yellow zone, characterized by widespread encrustation of coralline algae
gray zone
in TRS supralittoral fringe zone, farthest zone from low tide line where macroscopic marine algae grow, middle
black zone
in TRS supralittoral fringe zone, immersed only at the highest spring tides, lowest
human uses of seagrass
indirect - fisheries depend on coastal seagrass meadows direct - extracted material used for food, medicine and industrial application
Beach slope is determined by...
interaction of waves, sediment particle size, and relationship of swash and backwash
Characteristics of the meiofauna
invertebrates from many phyla, elongated with few lateral projections, armored to protect them from being crushed by moving sand grains
Osmoconformer examples
inverts, jellies, tunicates
pink zone orgs
irregular worm snail, mats of anemones, keyhole limpets, gastropods
predation in tropical systems
is very strong and spread over a number of consumers, hence no keystone predator
gray zone organisms
knobby (and other) periwinkles, nerites
black zone organisms
lacks knobby periwinkle, several species of algae and cyanobacteria dominate, smaller periwinkles, other nerites, fuzzy chiton
rocky shore adaptations include:
large body exposes less surface area, light color reduces heat gain, adaptations of kidneys, aggregate in large clumps, mobile animals (crabs) move down as tide retreats into crevices of sheltered areas, close shells at low tide, e.g., barnacles and mussels, clamping down tightly to rock, e.g., limpets and chitons, produce gelatinous covering, e.g., rockweed
desiccation and salinity fluctuations in sandy shores are ____ severe than on rocky shores
less
less temperature variation and fewer storms are ____ stressful
less
tropical rocky shores have ____ temperature variation and seasonal rainfall than in temperate intertidal
less
fauana on the sandy shores is..
less abundant than in rocky shores, and does not occupy all available space
role of seagrasses as primary producers
less available and less digestible than seaweeds, contribute to food webs through fragmentation and, loss of leaves - sources of detritus
predation on sandy shores
less important - fewer predators among invertebrates
Greater exposure =
less influence of competition and predation, more influence of abiotic (physical) factors, e.g., waves, particle size and slope
black mangrove seeds
lima bean shaped
Supralittoral fringe inhabitants (RS)
limpets and isopods, some periwinkles and isopods breathe air, most inhabitants protected from predation by virtue of location
foliage leaves
long leaves from vertical shoots with 2 parts -sheath that bears no chlorophyll -upper blade that accomplishes all photosynthesis of the plant using chloroplasts in its epidermis undergo periods of growth
what gives the yellow zone its color?
microscopic boring algae
higher temperatures are ____ stressful
more
cons of osmoconformers
more sensitive to changes
meiofauna reproduction
most exhibit brood protection because they produce a small number of offspring
Cosmogenous sediment abundance
never very abundant, but is always present
what is the limiting nutrient in Tampa bay
nitrogen
white mangrove features
no visible roots, heart shaped leaves
competiton on the sandy shore
not a major factor in determining distribution
succession
occurs when disturbances strip intertidal rocks of inhabitants
where is most of Earth's carbon?
ocean
why does temp have less affect on sandy shores
of insulating properties of sand and water retention
a cushion of water
on sandy beaches, separates the grains of sand below a certain depth, especially true on beaches with fine sand where capillary action is greatest
immature sediment
one that has only traveled a short distance or time from its point of origin to the beach.
mature sediment
one that has traveled a long time or long distance from its point of origin to the beach.
where are manganese nodules found?
only found on the abyssal plain, in waters 4,000 to 5,000 meters deep, in the pacific
what type of sediment formed the lower keys (fl keys)
oolite
two notable hydrogenous sediments
oolite and manganese nodules
infauna
organisms that burrow in the sand to survive dry periods and intense heat from the sun
Osmoregulators
organisms that maintain a constant osmolarity regardless of the external environment
Hydrogenous sediments
originate in the water column. They have no land origin, no biological origin, but are formed chemically in the water.
Terrigenous (Lithogenous) sediment
originates on the land and is transported to the sea, Most terrigenous sediments are found on the continental shelf
other factors affecting meiofauna distribution
oxygen availability, also lower at greater depths, temperature, upper layers are more variable, salinity, wave action
middle and low midlittoral zone orgs (RS)
oysters, mussels, limpets, periwinkle, Bivalves, limpets, chitons, rock urchins
3rd clade sea grass
paddle grass (Ruppia), manatee grasses, and shoal grasses
2nd clade sea grass
paddle grasses (Halophila), turtle grasses, and Enhalus
red mangrove seed
pencil shaped
limiting nutrient in most estuaries
phosphate
what mineral is plentiful in Florida?
phosphate
estuary
place where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean
Hydrophytes
plants which grow in water
active margin
plate movement forming steep coastline
black mangrove features
pneumatophores, dark and waxy leaves
meiofauna feeding habitats
predators, herbivores, suspension feeders and detritivores
mineral phosphate
present in large amounts in rocks and subsoils
variety/distribution of organisms in infralittoral zone
primarily influenced by sediment characteristics, seagrass beds occur in the subtidal zones of some coasts, many species of fish live here, pace of life is constant relative to that on the beach
nitrogen fixers
produce organic nitrogen
red mangrove features
prop roots, large green leaves with yellow underside
white mangrove seeds
raisan shaped
Osmoregulators examples
reptiles, birds, arthropods
Osmoregulator cons
require special organs
intertidal fishes categories
residents and temporary inhabitants
Infralittoral fringe of rocky shores organisms
rich flora and fauna of organisms that can tolerate limited air exposure, molluscs, sea stars, brittle stars live among large kelps (ex. Laminaria), hydrozoans, anemones, sea urchins, spider and Jonah crabs
By far the most important transporting agent of sediment is...
river transport
are sandy or rocky shores a more stressful environment?
rocky
flowering plants in estuaries
seagrass, Marsh plants, mangroves
Factors affecting the size of meiofaunal populations
seasons (peak during summer months), protection from wave action = greater abundance, predation can have severe effects in the upper layers of sediments
flowering plants compete with....
seaweed for light
common periwinkles bury themselves in...
seaweed to retain moisture during low tide
rocky shore Zonation:
separation of organisms into prominent horizontal bands defined by color or distribution of organisms
How is particle size measured?
sieves
limiting nutrient
single essential nutrient that limits productivity in an ecosystem
Structure of salt marsh plants
smooth cordgrass, initiates salt marsh formation, grows in tufts of vertical stems connected by rhizomes, dominates lower marsh
generalists
species with broad niches
hydrophilous pollination
sperm-bearing pollen is carried by water currents to stigma (female pollen receptor)
Supralittoral Fringe of Sandy Shores
stretches from the high tide line to the point where terrestrial vegetation begins
unusual conditions that must occur before any transport of sediment to the sea by the wind can occur:
strong winds, coastal sediment source
The Infralittoral Zone of Sandy Shores
subtidal zone is truly marine, exposed only during the lowest spring tides
infralittoral fringe of rocky shores:
subtidal, area below midlittoral zone extending from the lowest of low tides to the upper limits reached by large kelps (laminarians)
Organisms attached to high intertidal locations face greatest challenge to maintain...
suitable body temperature and avoid water loss
rocky shore zones
supralittoral fringe, supralittoral, midlittoral, infralittoral fringe, infralittoral
ghost crabs
supralittoral zone, have gills, but only make short forays into water to wet them, live in burrows, and are nocturnal scavengers
3 major sandy shore zones
supralittoral, midlittoral, subtidal (infralittoral)
supralittoral zone inhabitants
temperate-insects, isopods, amphipod crustaceans, Ghost crabs and fiddler crabs replace amphipods in the tropics
mangrove distribution limiting factor
temperature
Stridulation
the act of producing sound by rubbing together certain body parts
Sediment particle size influences...
the beach's nature, porosity of sediments, ability of animals to burrow
Wentworth Scale
the classification of sediments by size; a boulder is the largest grain size and clay is the smallest grain size in this classification system
rhizosphere—
the system of roots and rhizomes also increases complexity in surrounding sediment
midlittoral zone of rocky shores:
the true or middle intertidal zone; extensive part that is regularly exposed during low tides and covered during high tides
The ability of a river to erode sediments is determined by...
the velocity of the flow, not the volume.
when algae die
the water becomes hypoxic or anoxic and the algae decompose
why do coarse sand beaches have less organisms?
they drain well, dry out quickly
Temporary inhabitants
tidal, seasonal and accidental visitors
The purpose of a jetty
to keep sand from filling in the pass or inlet, Eventually, sand spills over the end of the jetty into the pass. When this happens, the pass and jetty must be dredged or the jetty extended.
life in estuaries
tolerant species, generalists, large pops uncommon due to pollution
oysters and mussels survive low tides by ...
trapping water in their shells
Comparison of Temperate and Tropical Rocky Intertidal Systems
tropical- -Higher stress and predation -Abundant mobile invertebrates, but fewer sessile ones in the tropics temperate- -Large body size or residing in higher areas are more important means of avoiding predators -Macroalgae have more impact on community structure
Resident species
typically have special adaptations for surviving harsh intertidal conditions, e.g., cling fish, blennies, gobies, sculpins
As tide retreats...
upper regions exposed to air, changing temperatures, solar radiation, dissication, lower regions exposed only a short time before tide returns to cover them
supralittoral fringe (splash zone) of rock shores:
uppermost area covered only by the highest (spring) tide, usually just dampened by spray of crashing waves
where are groins built
used along a beach that is having erosion problems. A groin will trap sand on one side because it will block the normal longshore transport along the beach, Once a single groin is built, then the entire beach eventually ends up with a series of groins.
midlittoral fringe TRS zones
usually divided into yellow and pink zones
Light of Estuaries
varies with turbidity
flowering plant parts
vascular, phloem, xylem, seed plants
culm:
vertical stem (cordgrass)
where does carbonate ooze occur
warmer water
backwash
water flowing down the beach
tide pool challenges:
water loses oxygen as it heats in the sun, salinity changes, oxygen changes due to algae, temperature, pH abruptly returned to ocean conditions when tide reaches the pool
swash
water running up a beach after a wave breaks
most important factor in determining organism distribution on sandy shores
wave action
breakwaters stop...
wave action and longshore action
reflective beach:
wave energy is directly dissipated on the beach, usually steep with course sediment deposited as swash and backwash waters collide
dissipative beach:
wave energy is strong but is dissipated in a surf zone some distance from the beach face, usually flat with fine sediment, receive less wave action and have gentle swash
vertically homogeneous estuary
well mixed with salinity relatively constant with increasing depth, stronger tidal influence
Active margin example
west coast
Tropical Rocky Shores Supra littoral fringe zones
white, gray and black zones
passive margin
wide shelf with no plate movement
wind transport
wind is the least important method of sediment transport in terms of amounts carried from land to sea
which zone is higher? Pink or yellow?
yellow
vertical zones in the midlittoral zone
zone of retention, zone of resurgence, zone of saturation
how do invertebrates use sound?
•A snapping shrimp rapidly shuts its claw, causing the water to cavitate and form a bubble. The sound produced is from the bubble collapsing, not the shrimp itself. Crackling sounds from collapsing bubbles scare away predators
seagrass community
•Continually submerged underwater •Roots stabilize sediments
sounds for mating
•Find mates • Impress possible mates
sandy shores
•Many temperate and tropical shorelines consist of sandy beaches •Extend almost continuously from Cape Cod south to the Gulf Coast on the east coast of North America
sea grass leaves
•arise from nodes of rhizomes or vertical stems •scale leaves and foliage leaves
