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Our Biome

The ocean

The ocean is the largest of all the ecosystems. Oceans are very large bodies of water and they cover a majority of the Earth’s surface. Ocean regions are separated into separate zones: intertidal, euphotic, disphotic, and aphotic. Each has distinct difference and include a large diversity of species. The chart below shows the three light zones. We will be talking about the intertidal and euphotic zones because they are the zones where sea turtles live and lay their eggs.




The Euphotic or Sunlight Zone:

The uppermost layer of the world's ocean is called the euphotic or sunlight zone, this is where the sea turtle lives. Euphotic means "well lit" in Greek and this zone's characteristics go well with its name. This zone can vary greatly in depth depending on the murkiness of the water and it usually extends out 660 feet from the shore. The temperature of the water can also vary anywhere from 104 to 27 degrees F.

This zone receives enough light for photosynthesis to take place and that is why there are many plants and other photosynthetic organisms living here.  Remember that photosynthesis is a process in which sunlight and carbon dioxide gas are converted into food (chemical energy) and oxygen gas. The primary producer this process are phytoplankton. They are considered the first link in the ocean food chain. It is because of this great food source that so many animals live in this zone, and most ocean life is found in this zone.

What can live here?

Many different species of fish, sharks, whales, crustaceans, eels, echinoderms, seals, octopus, mullasks, shrimp, squids, and of course, sea turtles live in this zone.

A distinct animal characteristic for this zone is countershading. This is when an animal is dark on top or on its upperside and parts, and light on its underside and parts. This is so if a predator looks down at a countershaded animal, it blends into the darker waters and if a predator looks at a countershaded animal from below, the light underbelly disappears into the light. This is called an adaptation and serves as a camouflage. It helps the organism hide from predators. It can also work the oppossite way helping a predator sneak up on its prey without being seen. Most sharks have this, as does the sea turtle.
The Intertidal or Littoral Zone:
This is where between the high and low tide zones the ocean and land meet. This type of biome is made of the world's coastlines. This zone is particularly rich in nutrients and oxygen and is home to a variety of organisms. It is here that the female sea turtles lay their eggs. Below is a chart of the different organisms found within this zone as well as the tide zones.









Resources:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/aquatic.html