Open Ocean Threats and Description Week 9

Open Ocean Description and Threats

Biome

The open ocean is a very unique biome. The open ocean is described as a dessert because there is little to no productivity. Even though the ocean takes up 71% of the earth the area per square foot is so low in productivity.

This is the open ocean on a calm cloudless day

Photo from staticflickr.com 

Sunlight and temperature are the two most important abiotic factors The temperature is constantly changing. When water is warmer it is less dense. When the water is cooler the water is more dense. The density of the water affects ocean and wind currents. When the sunlight hits the ocean only a little of it is affected by sunlight, this zone is called photiczone. This is where most aquatic organisms thrive. This is where the top primary producer, algae performs photosynthesis. Algae makes up to 70% of the oxygen in the atmosphere.

This is a large area covered with algae. The rich color is a product of photosynthesis.  

Photo from pexels.com

Algae will attach to float objects such as litter like a water bottle heading to the giant garbage patch, wind currents and ocean currents do not wash the algae away. Without sunlight the algae will not photosynthesize as a result of this there will be no production of oxygen. An important consumer that thrives in the open ocean is a small fish called a herring.

This picture is a school of fish, herring to be exact. They swim in large numbers which makes it easier for consumption.

Photo from flickr.com

Herring consume zooplankton. Water temperatures affect both the life of the zooplankton and the herring. Like most organisms herring reproduce in warmer water. If the water is colder than their “normal” their will be less of a population of herring. If the water is warmer the population size of the herring will increase. There will be also a higher demand for zooplankton. Zooplankton will also thrive better in warmer water.

This picture is of a collection of zooplankton, which is the primary food source.

Photo from Wikipedia.com

Herring are not the only organism that consume zooplankton. The demand for zooplankton will be at high which may not be able to keep up with the growing populations. Herring are a huge supporter in the food chain for larger organisms such as dolphins. If the population of the herring is affected the rest of the food chain will also suffer. Herring are important in the open ocean because they are an important primary consumers.

Threats

One of the most important threat to the open ocean is pollution of plastic which effect biotic and abiotic factors. There are many forms of pollution all humans induced. There are multiple giant garbage patches.

This picture is of the convergence zones where garage gathers because of ocean currents.

Photo from wikipedia.com 

This patch is made up of all kinds of plastic which make its way with ocean currents and wind currents. Plastics that make their way from all over the world. Plastic that does not make it until landfills or being consumed by marine life. Marine life consume plastic thinking it is their own food. Pollution of our oceans impact biotic and abiotic factors. Abiotic factors include sunlight and temperature. Sunlight heats up the plastic since it is not biodegradable and breaks down so smaller pieces. These small pieces are often mistaken for food and are easier to travel with currents. This also means it is harder to clean up because the particles are so small. Temperature also influences ocean and wind currents. Piece of plastic are easily carried throughout the ocean. Biotic factors which include herring, algae, plankton and many other marine life are directly impacted by pollution.

This picture is of a plastic bag that is transparent like a jellyfish. 

Photo from wikipedia.com

Plastic bags in the ocean look like a common food source, jellyfish which are consumed by dolphins. Small pieces of plastic that break down over time look like zooplankton. Humans than consume these organisms like fish and squids. These sources than end up in our digestive systems. Us humans are the source of the problem because we consume plastic products at such an alarming rate. There isn't enough room to store the waste. We will be the start of the solution because we are the problem. Ultimately the solution would be to stop producing plastic for products and start to clean up our oceans with massive vacuum systems. The open ocean is called a desert because there is little productivity if we were to compare the biome of the open ocean and the biome of the desert there is little to no pollution in the dessert. Dessert do not have much to offer for humans since there is high temperatures low rainfall and the soil is malnourished. Both desserts and the open ocean cover a large scale of our planet. The ocean has factors of wind and ocean currents that travel plastics. The ocean is the end of the cycle of all our waterways which collects all the miss disposed waste.

Another form of pollution is oil which is just as important as the pollution of plastic. Oil spills happen more often than not. Big oil companies such as British Petroleum are a contributing factor. Another human centric problem. Oil spills are accidents in the lack of safety regarding oil. Oil sticks to the fur, scales and shells of marine life. Marine life consume the oil through digestion or through their skin. When these organisms consume the oil it has an effect on their health and life span. If we then consume marine life that has had an exposure to oil we than have oil in our digestive systems.

This picture is of an oil spill and a boat. To compare the size of the spill.

Photo form wikipedia.com

Oil and water do not mix that is basic science. It is so hard and complicated to clean up oil in the open ocean. Abiotic and biotic factors are affected by these spills. Temperate has no effect on oil in the ocean. Oil does not break down or change its composition. Same with sunlight it does not break down or change the composition. Heat would have an effect on oil in the ocean. Water can actually catch on fire if it is contaminated enough. If the ocean were to catch on fire because of the oil spill this would induce more pollution to the atmosphere and affect organisms thriving in the ocean. There is massive cleanups set up mechanically and human organized to help reduce pollution.

People of Keene

The people of Keene, the students specifically because I am part of that community, consume plastic products every day, multiple times a day. Keene students litter all kinds of such as plastic bags, bottles, cans, cigarette butts and much more. Keene, NH is a college town.

This picture is of a campsite which has been heavily littered. 

Photo from flickr.com

Keene is known to be a party school which influences the lifestyle of the students and their litter. The students and people of Keene can start by banning plastic water bottles. There are numerous water filling stations around campus for reusable water bottles. Plastic bag ban has been issued in many cities around the US. If there were no plastic bag consumption in the town that would eliminate an unneeded litter of plastic.

This picture is of the Ashuelot River running through Keene, NH

Photo from wikipedia.com

The city of Keene has a massive waterway running through the town called the Ashuelot river. This river receives a lot of pollution from both the students and people of Keene. Run off of companies, house holds, people walking by. All this pollution eventually makes it way into the open ocean. Oil may be illegally dumped by business and households if the oil is old or no longer in use. Other run off from Keene could include chemicals and other substances that more or less have the same effect as oil. These substances will settle on the water beds floor and make its way into being consumed by organisms. Eventually leading into the oceans.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4334/37001999386_153a6a5caf_b.jpg
https://www.pexels.com/photo/fisherman-green-reef-outdoor-wave-951255/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakecaptive/885981258/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plankton

 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pacific-garbage-patch-map_2010_noaamdp.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plastic_bag_jellyfish.JPG
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deepwater_Horizon_Oil_Spill_-_Gulf_of_Mexico.jpg
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7726011@N07/18313563128
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ashuelot_River_in_Keene_New_Hampshire_(5149313316).jpg