Env Micro Marine GW ENv

Marine Environments
Like those of lakes, marine water environments are also

highly diverse.
The study of the sea in all of its aspects i.e. physical,

chemical, geological and biological, is termed oceanography.
The chief ecological features of the marine environment are:
i. The sea is big, covering about 70% of the earth's
surface.
ii. The sea is deep and continuous, not separated as are

land and fresh water. All the oceans are connected.
iii. Temperature, salinity, and depth are the chief barriers to

the free movement of marine organisms.
iv. It is incontinuous circulation due to wind and air
temperature differences between poles and equator.
v. Waves & tides of are produced by the pull of the moon and
sun.
vi. The sea is salty. These salts contain chlorides, sulphates,

bicarbonates, carbonates and bromides of sodium,
magnesium, calcium and potassium, of which sodium
chloride is in maximum amount.
As in ponds and lakes, oceans also exhibit a distinct zonation.
Generally, there is a continental shelf extending for a distance

offshore, beyond which the bottom drops off steeply as the
continental slope then levels off somewhat (the continental
rise) before dropping down to more deeper depths.
Two major zones (realms) – based upon the physical nature;

1- Pelagic realm (water mass)
2- Benthic realm (bottom of the sea)
1- Pelagic
 Neritic
 Oceanic
2- Benthic
 Intertidal
 Bathyal
 Abyssal
 Hadal
The shallow-water zone on the continental shelf is the neritic
(near shore) zone.
Rest of the water is oceanic zone.
The zone between high and low tides is known as the intertidal
zone.
Above continental slop is Bathyal
Above continental rise is Abyssal
Deep trenches is Hadal.
Pelagic realm can be divided on the basis of light.
1. Photic zone
2. Aphotic zone
Light can penetrate through photic zone to a depth of about

200 m depending on water turbidity.
All primary productivity is in photic zone

About 90% of all marine life lives in it.
The photic zone or euphotic zone is the depth of the water
that is exposed to sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to
occur.
The depth of the photic zone can be greatly affected by

seasonal turbidity.
It extends from the atmosphere-water interface downwards

to a depth where light intensity falls to 1% of that at the
surface (also called euphotic depth).
Pelagic zone, a broad term used for the water column, which
may be subdivided on the basis of precise depth in the water
column (also on the basis of light).
 The upper 200 m of water column is called epipelagic zone
(well-lit), which is the habitat of large proportion of
photosynthetic microbes. Further depths are designated as
mesopelagic (twilight), bathypelagic (dark) and abyssopelagic
(dark) habitats and the final sea-sediment interface is
benthopelagic zone (benthos)
 Pelagic zone
 Epipelagic zone (well lit) 0-200 m
 Mesopelagic zone (Twilight) 200–1000 m
 Bathypelagic zone (Dark) 1000–4000 m
 Abyssopelagic zone (Dark) 4000–6000 m
 Hadopelagic zone (Bottom) 6000-11000m

Microorganisms present are;
Bacteria, archaea and protozoa, as well as some species of
fungi, algae, rotifers and viruses.
Microbes are responsible for all the photosynthesis

that occurs in the ocean, as well as the recycling of
carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other
nutrients and trace elements.
Marine waters contain diverse microbial habitats. Different

microbial communities predominate at different locations in
the ocean.
Microbial concentrations are highest in the neuston, dropping
markedly below this region (autotrophs).
Vertically, like lakes, the numbers of microorganisms increase

at the thermocline (heterotrophs).
Heterotrophs are least in the photic zone till 200 m.
It increases away from the photic zone.
Maximum archaea, anaerobes & facultative anaerobes in the

bottom (benthic)
Fungi, protozoa, and viruses act as parasites and predators,
and are important components of marine communities.
Protozoa act as bacterial predators, bacteriophages (viruses)

are also prevalent as bacterial hosts.
Marine fungi feed on both marine plants and animals in addition

to bacteria and algae.
An interesting phenomena in phytoplankton of marine
environments are algal blooms, which occur in eutrophic
water bodies under usually warm, sunny, and calm conditions.
Under these nutrient-rich and favourable environmental

conditions some algae and cyanobacteria grow rapidly resulting
in blooms.
Under very high eutrophic conditions algal blooms adversely

affect the water quality.
 Such water tends to have a foul smell making it unpleasant for
recreation and even dangerous for swimming, fishing, etc.
 Algae in such blooms may produce toxins.
 Red coloured algal bloom composed of red-pigmented

dinoflagellates are called red tides.
 These algae produce toxins that are taken up by fish causing extensive
deaths.
 These toxins can also affect marine birds, mammals and even humans
consuming fish caught in such waters.
A "red tide" off the coast of La Jolla, California.
Groundwater Environments
Groundwater environment is found in the subsurface zone and
it includes “Aquifers”
Aquifer is a wet underground water bearing layer. (major

source of water)
Aquifers are formation depends upon the soil type
Soil can be;
Saturated
 Pressure of water is equal or greater then atmospheric pressure
Unsaturated
 Pressure of water is less then atmospheric pressure, some air
pockets still remain, which can be filled
Types of Aquifers
Aquifers are of two types
1. Confined
2. Un-confined
Based upon the permeability of layers
surrounding it
Unconfined (shallow aquifers)
Directly recharged by rain, rivers, streams
Water table aquifers (closely connected to surface)
Confined (Deep & intermediate aquifers)

Can not directly recharged
Covered by semi-permeable layers
Flow rates are very slow
Within 300 m ------------- Intermediate (drinking & irrigation)
More than 300 m --------- Deep (anaerobic)
 Generally microorganisms are the sole inhabitants in G.E
 Bacteria are predominant
 Microbial activity is low due to poor nutrients
 Shallow zones have high no. of microorganisms, come from

recharge
 Low eukaryotic count
 Dominant population ------- aerobic autotroph, heterotroph bacteria,
& few eukaryotes
 Deep & Intermediate aquifers
 Dominant population -------- facultative aerobes, chemo-

heterotrophs, methanogens, sulphate-reducers & oxidizers, nitrifiers,
denitrifers & nitrogen fixing bacteria
 Small no of cyanobacteria, fungi & protozoa

Env Micro Marine GW ENv

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Env Micro Marine GW ENv

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Env Micro Marine GW ENv

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Marine Environments

Like those of lakes, marine water environments are also

The study of the sea in all of its aspects i.e. physical,

ii. The sea is deep and continuous, not separated as are

iii. Temperature, salinity, and depth are the chief barriers to

vi. The sea is salty. These salts contain chlorides, sulphates,

Generally, there is a continental shelf extending for a distance

Two major zones (realms) – based upon the physical nature;

Rest of the water is oceanic zone.

Light can penetrate through photic zone to a depth of about

All primary productivity is in photic zone

The depth of the photic zone can be greatly affected by

It extends from the atmosphere-water interface downwards

 Mesopelagic zone (Twilight) 200–1000 m

 Bathypelagic zone (Dark) 1000–4000 m

 Abyssopelagic zone (Dark) 4000–6000 m

 Hadopelagic zone (Bottom) 6000-11000m

Microbes are responsible for all the photosynthesis

Marine waters contain diverse microbial habitats. Different

Vertically, like lakes, the numbers of microorganisms increase

Heterotrophs are least in the photic zone till 200 m.

It increases away from the photic zone.

Maximum archaea, anaerobes & facultative anaerobes in the

Protozoa act as bacterial predators, bacteriophages (viruses)

Marine fungi feed on both marine plants and animals in addition

Under these nutrient-rich and favourable environmental

Under very high eutrophic conditions algal blooms adversely

 Algae in such blooms may produce toxins.

 Red coloured algal bloom composed of red-pigmented

Aquifer is a wet underground water bearing layer. (major

Confined (Deep & intermediate aquifers)

 Shallow zones have high no. of microorganisms, come from

 Dominant population -------- facultative aerobes, chemo-

 Small no of cyanobacteria, fungi & protozoa

You might also like