Benthos & Nekton Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Objectives • Definition. • Some forms of phyto-benthos. • Relationship between size of organisms and abundance. Kelp forest • Marine Animals. • Marine invertebrates. • Coral reefs • Marine vertebrates. • Fish • Mammals. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology On •Definition Polychaete In Around Meiofauna Benthos Crab •All organisms living on or in or around substrate. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology plankton pelagic Nekton Benthos Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology • Activity 1: • يطلب من الطلبة الربط بين اللوحة السابقة والتالية من حيث تسكين الكائنات الموجودة فى اللوحة االولى فى اماكن تواجدها فى اللوحة الثانية. • ذكر امثلة لتلك الكائنات +خصائص البيئةالمتواجدة فيها. • يتم تقسيم الطلبة الى ثالثة أو أربعة مجاميع حسب أعدادهم و أماكن جلوسهم. • مدة النشاط خمس دقائق. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Biozone Pelagic Neritic Benthic Oceanic Littoral Supralittoral Intertidal High zone Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Mid zone Low zone Subtidal • Benthos Benthic Flora Seagrass Red Algae Benthic Fauna Megafauna Green Algae Brown Algae Macrofauna Kelp Bed Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Microfauna Meiofauna Kelp bed Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Marsh grass Seagrass Bed Aquatic Vegetations Montaza Bay, Alexandria, By Prof., Hesham Mostafa Kelp bed Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Phylum Phaeophyta or Brown Algae Seaweeds are large marine multicellular algae. These nonvascular plants are grouped as green, red and brown algae. Phylum Rhodophyta or Red Algae Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Phylum Chlorophyta or Green Algae Relationship Between Size Of Organisms And Abundance • The smaller they are, the more abundant they tend to be. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Marine Animals Marine invertebrates Phylum Porifera (Sponges) Phylum Cnidaria (Corals, Jellyfish) Phylum Mollusca (Clams, Snails, Octopi) Phylum Arthropoda (Crabs, Shrimp, Lobsters, Copepods) Phylum Echinodermata (Sea Stars, Brittle Stars) Marine worms (Polychaeta, Nematode) Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Marine vertebrates Phylum Porifera (Sponges) The contribution Of sponges to total benthic productivity is usually minor Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Phylum Cnidaria (Corals, Jellyfish) Fossil coral Coral reefs support rich ecosystems Jonathan Bird Jellyfish Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Phylum Mollusca (Clams, Snails, Octopi) Bivalve Snails Octopus Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Phylum Arthropoda (Crabs, Shrimp, Lobsters, Copepods) Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Phylum Echinodermata (Sea Stars, Brittle Stars) Sea urchins Sea urchins Sunflower starfish Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Marine worms (Polychaeta, Nematodes) Polychaeta Nematodes Turbellarian flatworms Oligochaete worms Leeches Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Serpulid worm Coral Reefs http://www.coralreef.noaa.gov/ • Coral reefs are aragonite (calcium carbonate +strantium) structures produced by living organisms, found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water. High nutrient levels such as those found in runoff from agricultural areas M Mitwally, can harm the reef by Prof.Dr.Hanan encouraging Marine Biology the growth of Algae. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology The stony corals which have formed a symbiotic partnership with tiny algae Zooxanthellae. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Coral Bleaching Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology •Marine Vertebrates Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Marine Vertebrates Tunicates Birds Lancelets Reptiles Fish Amphibians Mammals Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Marine Vertebrates Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Tunicates: sea squirts Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology • Nekton • They are active swimming aquatic organisms in a body of water (usually oceans or lakes) able to move independently of water currents. • Nekton are contrasted with plankton Cephalochordate Lancelet (Brainless fish) Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Fish Jawless Fish Cartilaginous Fish Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Bony Fish The jawless fish, lamprey and hagfish are the most primitive vertebrates Suction mouth of lamprey Lamprey Hagfish Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Manta ray Clearnose skate Cartilaginous fish Pacific electric ray Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology White shark Cartilaginous fish Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Hammerhead shark Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Giant Grouper, the world's biggest bony fish Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology • Egyptian Commercial Bony Fish • Family Sparidae الشراغيش Diplodus sp Sparus sp المرجان Pagrus sp الدنيس Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Boops sp الموزة B=Marine Mammals Otters Polar bear Dolphin Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Sea lions Seals walrus Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology Manatees Dugongs, or sea cows as they are sometimes called, are marine animals which can grow to about three metres in length and weigh as much as 400 kilograms. They are the only marine mammals in Australia that live mainly on plants. The name sea cow refers to the fact that they graze on the seagrasses, which form meadows in sheltered coastal waters. As dugongs feed, whole plants are uprooted and a telltale-feeding trail is left. Dugongs are more closely related to elephants than to marine mammals such as whales and dolphins, but manatees are their closest living aquatic relatives. Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology •Summary • h_mitwally@yahoo.com Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology • Take Home message .............• أنا البحر فى جنابته الدر كامن Prof.Dr.Hanan M Mitwally, Marine Biology