14module in Environmental Science

Module 14
Marine
Introduction
Marine ecosystems are the largest of earth’s aquatic ecosystems and are distinguished by
waters that have a high salt content. It includes marshes, tidal zone, estuaries, mangrove forest,
lagoons, sea grass beds, the sea floor, and the coral reefs (largest of all marine ecosystems).
Ocean ecosystems are divided into four zones: intertidal, pelagic, benthic, and abyssal. Most
ocean life can be found in coastal habitats on the continental shelf, even if this area occupies only 7% of
the total ocean area. Most of the open ocean habitats are found in the deep ocean. The ocean supports
a diverse life system starting from creatures that float or swim such as algae, plankton, jellyfish, and
whales. Many living forms inhabit the upper layer where sun’s rays penetrate. Marine life not only exist
in the open ocean waters, but on its floor as well. Species that live in this ecosystem include certain
types of fish, crustaceans, clams,
oysters, worms, urchins, seaweed, and
smaller organism. At greater depths,
sunlight cannot penetrate to the
bottom. Organism inhabiting this deep
water rely on the sinking of organic
matter above for survival. (Harris, 2010)
Healthy marine ecosystems are

important for society since they provide
services including food security, feed for
livestock, raw materials for medicine,
building defenses against hazards such
as coastal erosion and inundation.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Locate the four zones of a marine ecosystem.

2. Classify the different organisms in the ocean according to their ecological niche.
3. Write an essay to describe the state of marine ecosystem at present.
Pre-Assessment
Choose the letter of the best answer.
1. In which zone or layer of the ocean do plankton live?

a. Euphotic zone
1
b. Disphotic zone
c. Aphotic zone
d. Twilight zone
2. What living organism in the ocean helps to provide much of earth’s oxygen?
a. Fish
b. Algae
c. Whales
d. Coral reefs
3. The ocean covers approximately how much of the earth’s surface?

a. 10%
b. 70%
c. 90%
d. 25%
4. Which marine ecosystem is found in clear shallow water in tropical regions, and formed from
calcium carbonate skeletons of generations of animals?
a. Coral reef
b. Estuary
c. Open ocean
d. Intertidal zone
5. Which among the following degrade marine ecosystem the most?

a. Plastic pollution
b. Erosion
c. Climate change
d. a and c
Lesson Presentation
Marine ecosystems are the largest of the earth’s aquatic ecosystems and are distinguished by
waters that have high salt content. These systems contrast with freshwater which have a lower salt
content. It includes marshes, tidal zones, estuaries, mangrove forests, lagoons, seagrass beds, the ocean
floor, and the coral reef.
Ocean ecosystem is divided into four zones:
1. intertidal
2. pelagic
3. benthic
4. abyssal
2
IMPORTANCE OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM
Marine ecosystems are important for society since they provide services including food security,
feed for livestock, raw materials for medicine, building materials from coral rock and sand, and natural
defenses against hazards such as coastal erosion and inundation.
Marine ecosystem also provides other important services associated with their regulatory and
habitat function such as pollution control, storm protections, flood control, habitat for species, and
shoreline stabilization.
BIOTIC COMPONENTS OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM
Most ocean life can be found in coastal habitats on the continental shelf, even if this area
occupies only 7% of the total ocean area. Most of the open ocean habitats are found in the deep ocean
beyond the edge of the continental shelf. The Pacific Ocean has the most marine life.
A. Animals of the Marine Biome

1. Fish – sharks, swordfish, tuna, clownfish, stingray, flatfish, eels, rockfish, seahorse, sunfish
mola, and gurs.
2. Marine mammals – blue whale, seal, dolphins, manatees, and otters.
3. Mollusks – octopus, cuttlefish, clams, conch, squids, oysters, slugs, and snails.
4. Jellyfishes
5. Reptiles
B. Plants in the Ocean
Phytoplankton. Serve as the major primary producers in the marine ecosystem. These
microscopic single-celled plants, bacteria, algae, and other organisms harvest sunlight through
photosynthesis and store it as chemical energy. Kelps are also major producers in the ocean. It
grows abundantly and can be found throughout the ocean. They stay anchored in the ocean floor
with a structure call holdfast. Air filled sacs buoy the kelp up towards ocean surface where the leaf
blades collect sunlight for photosynthesis. Kelp provide food and shelter for a variety of ocean
creatures such as sea turtles, crabs, and fishes.
Reference:
Water Garden: The Philippine Coastal Marine & Ecosystem
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNlwkn39YiA
3
Activity/Evaluation
The marine ecosystem gets our attention for different reasons, but even then, the fact remains
that consistent increase in the amount of pollutants has degraded water bodies across the world to level
of irreparable damage.
PHOTOGRAPH BY KEN GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES
Study the picture above and write an essay of not less than 250 words on what the picture
means to you.
Reinforcement
The ocean is one of the earth’s most valuable resource. It provides food in the form of fish and
shellfish (about 200 billion pounds are caught each year). It is used for transportation both travel and
shipping. It also provides source of recreation for humans. The marine ecosystem is the last of the
aquatics systems discussed in this module. The next lesson will deal with the concept of environmental
unity and sustainable development.

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Module 14

Healthy marine ecosystems are

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Locate the four zones of a marine ecosystem.

Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. In which zone or layer of the ocean do plankton live?

3. The ocean covers approximately how much of the earth’s surface?

5. Which among the following degrade marine ecosystem the most?

Ocean ecosystem is divided into four zones:

BIOTIC COMPONENTS OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM

A. Animals of the Marine Biome

B. Plants in the Ocean

Water Garden: The Philippine Coastal Marine & Ecosystem

PHOTOGRAPH BY KEN GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES

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