Difference between revisions of "Marine habitats and ecosystems"

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This article provides an introduction to habitats that form the basis of [[:Category:Marine_Biodiversity|marine biodiversity]]. Coastal Wiki articles related to coastal and marine habitats are listed under the category [[:Category:Coastal and marine habitats|coastal and marine habitats]].
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This article will provde an introduction to the habitat categories identified as forming the key elements in marine biodiversity.
 
  
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==Introduction==
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Marine [[ecosystem]]s are part of the earth’s aquatic ecosystem. The [[habitat]]s that make up this vast system range from the productive nearshore regions to the barren ocean floor.
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The marine waters may be fully saline, brackish or nearly fresh. The saline waters have a [[salinity]] of 35-50 ppt (= parts per thousand). The freshwater has a [[salinity]] of less than 0.5 ppt. The brackish water lies in between these 2. Marine [[habitat]]s are situated from the coasts, over the [[continental shelf habitat|continental shelf]] to the [[Open oceans|open ocean]] and [[Deep sea habitat|deep sea]]. The [[ecosystem]]s are sometimes linked with each other and are sometimes replacing each other in other geographical regions. The reason why [[habitat]]s differ from another is because of the '''physical factors''' that influence the functioning and [[Marine Biodiversity|diversity]] of the [[habitat]]s. These factors are temperature, [[salinity]], [[Tide|tides]], [[currents]], wind, wave action, light and substrate. <ref>Levinton J.S. 1995. Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. Oxford University Press. p. 420</ref>
  
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Marine habitats are those covered by the sea all the time. they include:
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'''Marine ecosystems''' are home to a host of different species ranging from [[plankton|planktonic]] organisms that form the base of the marine [[food web]] to large marine mammals. Many species rely on marine [[ecosystem]]s for both food and shelter from predators. They are very important to the overall health of both marine and terrestrial environments.
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'''Coastal habitats''' are those above the spring high [[tide]] limit or above the mean water level in non-tidal waters. <ref>http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/habitats-factsheet.jsp?idHabitat=409</ref> They are close to the sea and include habitats such as [[Sand Dunes in Europe|coastal dunes]] and [[sandy shores]], beaches , cliffs and supralittoral habitats. Coastal [[habitat]]s alone account for approximately 30% of all marine [[biological productivity]]. The diversity and productivity are also important for humans. These habitats provide a rich source of food and income. They also support species that serve as animal feed, fertilizers, additives in food and cosmetics. Habitats such as [[mangrove]]s and [[seagrass]]es protect the coastlines from wave action and erosion. Other areas provide sediment sinks or act as filtering systems.
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Despite the importance of marine [[ecosystem]]s, increased human activities have caused significant damage or are serious threats to the [[Marine Biodiversity|marine biodiversity]]. These activities can be overfishing, pollution, introduction of exotic species or coastal development. For this reason, conservation plans are necessary to save the marine [[ecosystem]]s from being lost.
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<gallery>
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image:Rocky coast in the Azores.jpg|Rocky shores. Photo credit L. Quinta.
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image:Beach zeeuwsvlaanderen.jpg|Sandy shores. Photo credit Albert Kok.
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image:Continental shelf.jpg|Continental shelf with overlying water
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image:Open Ocean.jpg|Open ocean. Photo credit David Stauffer.
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image:Deep sea vent.jpg|Deep sea with hydrothermal vent
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image:sea ice.GIF|Sea ice ecosystem
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image:Coral reef.jpg|Coral reef. Photo credit James Walter.
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image:eelgrass NOAA.jpg|Seagrass meadow. Photo credit NOAA.
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image:Kelp.jpg|Seaweed forest (Kelp)
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image:mangrove thailand.jpg|Mangrove
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image:Saeftinghe NIOO-CEME.jpg|Salt marsh
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image:Western scheldt.jpg|Western Scheldt estuary
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</gallery>
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==Habitat types==
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We distinguish the following habitat types:  
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[[Rocky shore habitat]]
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[[Sandy shore habitat]]
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[[Continental shelf habitat]]
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[[Open oceans]]
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[[Deep sea habitat]]
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[[Sea ice ecosystem]]
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[[Coral reefs]]
  
 
[[Seagrass meadows]]
 
[[Seagrass meadows]]
  
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[[Coral reefs/tropical oceans]]
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[[Seaweed (macro-algae) ecosystem services]]
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[[Mangroves]]
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[[Salt marshes]]
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[[Estuarine ecosystems]]
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Related Coastal Wiki articles are listed under the respective habitat types.
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[[Open oceans/temperate oceans]]
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==References==
  
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[[Sea ice ecosystems]]
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<references/>
  
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[[Sub-littoral rock (seabed)]]
 
  
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[[Sub-littoral sediment (seabed)]]
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{{author
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|AuthorID=16323
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|AuthorFullName=TÖPKE, Katrien
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|AuthorName=Ktopke}}
  
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[[Other seabed habitats]]
 
  
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[[Category:Seagrass meadows]]
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[[Category:Coastal and marine ecosystems]]  
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[[Category:Coral reefs/tropical oceans]]
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[[Category:Coastal and marine habitats]]
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[[Category:Open oceans/temperate oceans]]
 
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[[Category:Sea ice ecosystems]]
 
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[[Category:Sub-littoral rock (seabed)]]
 
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[[Category:Sub-littoral sediment (seabed)]]
 
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[[Category:Other seabed habitats]]
 

Latest revision as of 16:05, 14 November 2024

This article provides an introduction to habitats that form the basis of marine biodiversity. Coastal Wiki articles related to coastal and marine habitats are listed under the category coastal and marine habitats.

Introduction

Marine ecosystems are part of the earth’s aquatic ecosystem. The habitats that make up this vast system range from the productive nearshore regions to the barren ocean floor. The marine waters may be fully saline, brackish or nearly fresh. The saline waters have a salinity of 35-50 ppt (= parts per thousand). The freshwater has a salinity of less than 0.5 ppt. The brackish water lies in between these 2. Marine habitats are situated from the coasts, over the continental shelf to the open ocean and deep sea. The ecosystems are sometimes linked with each other and are sometimes replacing each other in other geographical regions. The reason why habitats differ from another is because of the physical factors that influence the functioning and diversity of the habitats. These factors are temperature, salinity, tides, currents, wind, wave action, light and substrate. [1]


Marine ecosystems are home to a host of different species ranging from planktonic organisms that form the base of the marine food web to large marine mammals. Many species rely on marine ecosystems for both food and shelter from predators. They are very important to the overall health of both marine and terrestrial environments. Coastal habitats are those above the spring high tide limit or above the mean water level in non-tidal waters. [2] They are close to the sea and include habitats such as coastal dunes and sandy shores, beaches , cliffs and supralittoral habitats. Coastal habitats alone account for approximately 30% of all marine biological productivity. The diversity and productivity are also important for humans. These habitats provide a rich source of food and income. They also support species that serve as animal feed, fertilizers, additives in food and cosmetics. Habitats such as mangroves and seagrasses protect the coastlines from wave action and erosion. Other areas provide sediment sinks or act as filtering systems.


Despite the importance of marine ecosystems, increased human activities have caused significant damage or are serious threats to the marine biodiversity. These activities can be overfishing, pollution, introduction of exotic species or coastal development. For this reason, conservation plans are necessary to save the marine ecosystems from being lost.


  • Rocky shores. Photo credit L. Quinta.

  • Sandy shores. Photo credit Albert Kok.

  • Continental shelf with overlying water

  • Open ocean. Photo credit David Stauffer.

  • Deep sea with hydrothermal vent

  • Sea ice ecosystem

  • Coral reef. Photo credit James Walter.

  • Seagrass meadow. Photo credit NOAA.

  • Seaweed forest (Kelp)

  • Mangrove

  • Salt marsh

  • Western Scheldt estuary


Habitat types

We distinguish the following habitat types:

Rocky shore habitat

Sandy shore habitat

Continental shelf habitat

Open oceans

Deep sea habitat

Sea ice ecosystem

Coral reefs

Seagrass meadows

Seaweed (macro-algae) ecosystem services

Mangroves

Salt marshes

Estuarine ecosystems

Related Coastal Wiki articles are listed under the respective habitat types.


References

  1. ↑ Levinton J.S. 1995. Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. Oxford University Press. p. 420
  2. ↑ http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/habitats-factsheet.jsp?idHabitat=409


The main author of this article is TÖPKE, Katrien
Please note that others may also have edited the contents of this article.
Citation: TÖPKE, Katrien (2024): Marine habitats and ecosystems. Available from http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Marine_habitats_and_ecosystems [accessed on 23-11-2024]
Retrieved from "https://www.coastalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Marine_habitats_and_ecosystems&oldid=81275"