Sea grass adaptations

Sea grasses have been able to develop adaptations for the marine environment. They were once terrestrial plants but now grow best in shallow waters that are unharmed. The currents are able to carry the seeds to disperse them and created new plants. Sea grasses are able to provide food for the marine life that inhabit them. For instance detritus, bacteria and fungi all settle on the sea grass and provide a food for the fish and small creatures. Also snails, cucumbers and anemones are just a few of these animals that live on the sea grass receiving their food on the leaves. These marine organisms would also be referred to as residents because they live in the sea grass. Migrants move from reef, or mangrove to sea grass beds through out its life. By night and day in order to take turns hiding and hunting. Finally travelers are visitors that only occur every few months or a year. Dolphins, and sea turtles could be a possible example for when on their migration patterns.

Benefits of sea grasses

Sea grasses are efficient producers of energy. Because most animals can not eat the sea grasses directly they are able to eat the detritus, bacteria and fungi that settle on the sea grass. They are able to provide a community for over a hundred species of algae and marine life is able to attach itself to the plant leaves. The sea grass provides a lower covering making for a nice nursery for small animals until they are grown enough to fend for themselves. The coral reef and sea grasses also maintain a symbiotic relationship. Finally the coral reef is able to create a calm condition where the sea grass provides food and filters sediment and toxins from the water before they can come in contact with the reef.

Marine Video Issue

The Pew Marine Fellows are a group of marine biologists that are trying to protect the ocean ecosystem. Although people believe that by fish living around the coral reef they are safer that is no longer true. These marine biologists are measuring the fish abundance and fishing pattern in order to prevent over fishing. They are also measuring the climate changes and gaps in the currents. In Indonesia they have 37 million acres of protected area for fish conservation and the Pew Fellows are trying to learn more to help prevent the loss of more marine life.

http://youtu.be/LszU9JFKmhE

Pollution

The pollution and plastic found in the ocean causes many deaths to the marine animals as well as greatly harming the ocean. Entanglement is when the marine life gets wrapped into the plastic and can lead to strangulation. Ghost fishing is when the nets get lost at sea. Many plastic bags resemble jelly fish and are accidentally eaten by Sea Turtles. As well as monofilament, when the fishing line is lost. Plastic pellets are the small pieces of plastic within the ocean usually bottle caps. Many birds mistake these for eggs and carry them back to their babies who could choke on the caps.

Mangrove benefits

Mangroves are important to the environment. They provide a nursery to the different marine fish that inhabit the area. Because the roots can keep out the many bigger predators. Also they provide nutrients to the ground and help maintain the soul. The mangroves are able to filter the sediment and toxins within the water and keep them from passing. They also act as buffer zones for the communities that live in the area. Villages are not as prone to destruction from hurricanes when built behind mangroves. Finally mangroves are beneficial to the ecosystem because of the oxygen they produce as well as soil nutrients.

Red and Black Mangroves

Mangroves are considered Halophytes, or salt water tolerant. The mangrove is able to regulate the amount of salt that enter into their roots by transpiration. They are also able to grow a thick "cuticle", to help keep the salt out of the leaves.

The sea otter

Scientific Name: Enhydra lutris kenyoni
Common Name: Sea Otter
Habitat: the sea otter lives primarily in coastal shallow waters. The ocean floor is where they find their different food and then can play at the top of the waters.
Reproduction: when the female becomes pregnant it usually takes between six to eight months. Then most otters are morning in May. The female has one pup about every three to four years. The babies are then born in the water with their eyes wide open and ready to begin swimming.
Prey: sharks, humans, and killer whales often hunt the otter. Whereas the Otter hunts small crabs, mollusks and crustaceans.
Interesting facts: A sea otter reaches it's sexual maturing between the ages of three and six. Otters can dive up to 250 feet. They also are able to eat up to thirty percent of their body weight per day.
Why I chose it: I chose the otter because it is one of the friendliest creatures in the sea and they are cute.