The Structure Of The Sea
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To understand the main points of any kind of ecosystem first you have to learn the basic structure of classification. After you’ve have learned this you can take the next step to their life mechanisms and behavior. It sounds very geeky but it really is quite simple:
If you don’t want to (or don’t have the time to!) learn the massive classification chart with Families, Orders and Subclasses you dont have to, just try to think of the underwater ecosystem as it really is and try to categorize the living as they live and eat....or have a look over the information below!!
Versatile life forms of the marine ecosystem
Plankton: There are three different types of plankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacterioplankton. These plankton are the food source that is ultimately necessary for all marine species to survive. Without plankton the whole foodchain of the seas would just not work! Plankton involves various species from small bacteria to Jellyfish up to 20 cm wide.
Benthos: Organisms that live in, on or near the seabed are called benthos. The ‘Benthic Zone’ with its amazing colors is an interesting habitat, because the life in it can be seen without a microscope. The most well known benthic organisms are clams, sea stars, sea cucumbers, snails, crustaceans, oysters and many many others and by the way, they eat plankton.
Neuston: This is a category for those organisms that spend their life on the surface. These lifeforms are usually small and the best example of them are the water striders. Water stiders can use the waters surface tension to skip and rest on the surface. Sharing this surface area live various beetle species, water spiders, and the well known flying fish.
Pleuston: Pleuston is a category that includes the habitat close to or near the surface (also known as the midwater). It includes bacteria, plants and some gastropods.
All the actively swimming species such as fishes and whales are called nekton. The main difference between these and the passively floating neuston and pleuston is that all species under this category are able to swim against the current. Nekton are categorized in three different sections; vertebrates, molluscs and crustaceans.
Perifyton: These are species, such as algae, that attach to solid surfaces underwater
such as rocks, coral, boats or turtle shells!
The last is the Tripton. This category contains detritus and nonliving particulate organic material. It includes the fragments of dead organisms and it is ideal habitat for many microscopic organisms to undertake the process of decomposition, these are the vital ‘clean up crews’ of the deep!
Text and Photos by OWSI Tuukka Kansa.
