Oceanography Marine Organisms Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 690 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 2

SURVIVAL STRATEGIES: BENTHIC VS. PELAGIC ZOOPLANKTON

Oceanography, Marine Organisms

Phytoplankton is the primary food source for most marine organisms, either directly or indirectly. Since phytoplankton converts sunlight into energy, in the form of carbohydrates, their habitat is necessarily confined to the upper pelagic layers. The organisms that feed on the phytoplankton, the zooplankton, are thus forced to either remain in the upper pelagic layers or migrate vertically between the upper and lower layers. An important functional division within zooplankton is the ability to actively travel from location to location (nekton) or simply drift with the ocean currents (plankton) (Miller, 2004, p. 111). Whether an organism can swim or not determines to a significant extent what survival strategies are utilized.

Benthic Zone

Since plankton can't evade predators they rely on more passive defense mechanisms. Gastropods grow hard shells with narrow openings or elaborate sharp spines, and microalgae restrict the production of digestible structural material to deter foragers (Duffy and Hay, 2004, p. 137). Some species of benthic algae alter their form of growth to minimize predation.

Stuck Writing Your "Oceanography Marine Organisms" Essay?

View All Our Example Oceanography Marine Organisms Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

For example, lithophyllum congestum grows as a smooth crust on reef slopes where parrotfish prefer to forage and in upright branches on reef flats where parrotfish rarely go. The advantage of upright branches is a more rapid rate of growth and reproduction. Benthic plankton that lack physical defenses, like sponges, ascidians, soft coral, and microbes, secrete noxious chemicals to discourage predation or hide in habitats where predators are not active or are too big to fit.

Some forms of algae (seaweed) produce new growth at night when herbivore activity ceases, thus minimizing losses (Duffy and Hay, 2004, p. 134). During this period of vulnerability the section of new growth secretes noxious chemicals until calcification can occur the next day. Algae may also escape vigorous foraging by growing in a refuge or garden protected by herbivores. Reef damselfishes engage in such behavior and will aggressively defend their 'garden'.

Pelagic Zone

The mesopelagic zone encompasses all habitats too deep for photosynthesis to be energy efficient (Miller, 2004, p. 232). The zooplankton.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Oceanography Marine Organisms" (2011, October 17) Retrieved June 5, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/oceanography-marine-organisms-116730

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Oceanography Marine Organisms" 17 October 2011. Web.5 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/oceanography-marine-organisms-116730>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Oceanography Marine Organisms", 17 October 2011, Accessed.5 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/oceanography-marine-organisms-116730
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example