ERTH 20 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Sea Urchin, Benthos, Hagfish
7 May 2020
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Document Summary
Greatest diversity of animals in low latitude and algae in mid latitudes. Plants-few species include grass-like plants in bays and estuaries such as turtle grass, and mangroves. Green: not common in seawater, mostly intertidal. Epifaunal: live on top of seafloor. Infaunal: live within sediment on seafloor. Provide food and shelter for mollusks, starfish, octopi, lobsters, mammals. Large surface coral grows: warm water. Are habitat for 25% of all marine species. Many countries with coral reefs get more than 50% of their income from tourism. Only small portion of deep sea explored. Conditions are consistent but dark, very cold, and high pressure. Common animals: echinoids, sea urchins, brittle stars, crinoids, fish such as hagfish or sharks, deep water corals. Hydrothermal vents: unrelated to photosynthetic organisms, occur along mid-ocean ridges, active volcanic activity, vents last for a few decades at most so communities must be fast growing. Cold seeps: again unrelated to photosynthetic ecosystems.
