Animals of the Benthic Environment

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Ethelbert Bradford
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1 Animals of the Benthic Environment Name: Section: 1. Of the 250,000 known species that inhabit the marine ecosystem, more than 98% (about 245,000) live in or on the ocean floor. 2. Living at or near the interface of the ocean floor and seawater, an organism s is closely related to its ability to cope with the physical conditions of the water, the ocean floor, and the other organisms that inhabit its environment. 3. he biomass is the mass of detritus on the ocean floor. 4. he life on the ocean floor depends on the size of the coral that inhabit the floor. 5. he vast majority of benthic species live on the continental shelf. 6. he number of benthic species found at similar latitudes on opposite sides of an ocean basin depends on how ocean surface currents affect water pressure. 7. he Gulf current warms the Nova Scotian coast. 8. Summarize from what you have read in section 15.1 about the distribution of benthic organisms 9. Why is there 3 times the amount of benthic organisms between Spain and Norway compared to similar latitudes in North America?

2 10. If an organism lives within the ocean s surface it is part of the infauna 11. Animals who belong to the epifauna are stuck in place and cannot move. 12. he greatest animal diversity is in the Arctic and Antarctic zones. 13. Above the high tide line can be called the spray zone 14. here are three parts to the intertidal zone: high tide zone, middle tide zone, and low tide zone. 15. Organisms within the intertidal zone have evolved to withstand very specific conditions. (Delineated means clear different zones) 16. Explain the three different zones of the intertidal zones: 17. able 15.1 shows the various adaptations benthic organisms can have within the intertidal zones. (a) What are the six adverse conditions (name only) of rocky intertidal zones

3 17. continued (b) What organism adaptations exist for organisms who can dry out during low tide? (c) What are some examples of organisms that can resist a change to ph? (d) During what adverse conditions would stinging cells help an organism within the intertidal zone? (e) How can organisms adapt to strong wave activity? (f) What organisms have a difficulty finding mates for attached species?

4 18. he spray zone is also known as the breakwater zone 19. Animals have shells within the supratidal zone to avoid drying out during low tide. 20. Complete the following diagram (Page 440) 21. What does it mean to be sessile? 22. Why do algaes of the genus ucus have thick cell walls?

23. Mussels attach themselves to bare rock, algae, or barnacles during their adult phase of their life. 24. Mussels are often grouped together into mussel schools. 25.

5 23. Mussels attach themselves to bare rock, algae, or barnacles during their adult phase of their life. 24. Mussels are often grouped together into mussel schools. 25. Carnivorous snails and sea stars feed upon mussels in the mussel beds. 26. Sea stars use their mouths to open mussels. 27. he sea anemone lives only in very deep ocean. 28. he stinging needle-like cells on an anemone are called nematocysts. 29. he stinging cells of a sea anemone have a mild poison. 30. Sea urchins have a 3-toothed mouth. 31. he sea urchin s spines are poisonous and are used for aggressive attacks on its food. 32. Sea anemones will try and eat you if you place your hand on it. 33. Explain how nematocysts work

6 34. What types of algae are found in the low-tide zone? 35. What role do shore crabs have in the low tide ecosystem? 36. What are infauna and give an example of several organisms? 37. What role does surf grass have in the low tide ecosystem? 38. Why does decomposition occur more slowly in mud flats (fine sediment regions)é

7 39. Complete the following diagram on the sea floor Oceans 11 Marine Biome 01/12/2014

8 40. What is a bivalve mollusk? 41. Explain how a clam is able to burrow into the sand. Diagram the process in the box below. 42. What is an echinoderm?

Lecture Benthic Ecology

Lecture Benthic Ecology Benthos Unlike the drifting plankton and swimming nekton, benthic organisms commonly referred to as benthos live on or near the ocean bottom A benthic habitat may be shallow or