Introduction In conducting my research, I observed activity on the rocky shallow shore off the coast of Washington State where I found a small tidal pool (workbook). The community I am studying consists of three producers: Nori Seaweed (Porphyra), Black Pine (Neorhodomela), and Coral Weed (Corallina), three sessile consumers: Goose Neck Barnacles (Mitella), Acorn Barnacles (Semibalanus), and Mussels (Mytilus), and lastly four mobile consumers: Whelk (Nucella), Chiton (Katharina), Starfish (Pisaster), and the Green Crab (Carcinus). In order for producers to survive they must avoid their only predator, Chiton, as well as compete for space amongst each other. Coral Weed is the strongest competitor for space between the producers do to calcium carbonate in its cells creating structural support (SimU text), Black Pine is second, and Nori Seaweed is the least …show more content…
The sessile consumers are those that are stationary and feed off small plankton creating competition for their food source allowing some sessile consumers to become more dominant compared to others. Mussels are the most dominant of sessile consumers with the Starfish and Green Crab as its predators. Goose Neck Barnacles are of the middle dominance with Whelk, Green Crab, and Starfish as its predators. The least most dominant sessile consumer are Acorn Barnacles whose predators are Whelk and Green Crab. As far as the mobile consumers go, Starfish prey on Mussels, Goose Neck Barnacles, and Chiton; Whelk prey on Acorn Barnacles and Goose Neck Barnacles, and has Green Crab as its predator; and Chiton prey on Nori Seaweed, Black Pine, and Coral Weed. Lastly, there is one more mobile consumer known as the Green Crab invading the environment. The Green Crab has been brought over from Europe and can gain competitive advantage over all other species in this environment (workbook). It invades the area and is a predator to all sessile consumers and the Whelk. It will eventually take over the environment without
T. californicus is found from Alaska to Baja in small, shallow tidepools and tidal flats in the upper spray zone where they cannot avoid the full effect of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Individuals assemble in areas of lower radiation at midday, yet have no preference to the intensity of light at dawn and dusk (Hartline and Macmillan 1995). These tiny arthropods inhabit all types of marine sediments from sand to fine mud and ooze. Along with plankton, T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). When the concentrations of the species in their habitats are high, T. californicus will turn to cannibalism for a food source. The nautilus eye present in the species is rich with fatty acids and provides a good food source for the animal.
Both, people and animals, use the Bays resources every day and have done so for centuries. One of the Bay's biggest resources is its oysters. Oysters are filter feeders which means they feed on algae and clean the water. The oysters feed on algae and other pollutants in the bay, turning them into food, then they condense the food down to nutrients and sometimes develop pearls. Filtering the water helps the oysters grow, and also helps clean the Chesapeake Bay.
They also look after the quality of coastal waters by watering down, sifting, and settling deposits, left-over nutrients and contaminants. They are highly productive ecosystems and provide habitats and act as nurseries for all manner of life.
In conducting my research, I observed activity on a rocky shore off the coast of Washington in the Northwest United States (workbook). This environment inhabits 10 species in shallow water nearly on top of each other. Each species helps form a complicated ecosystem where species protect, consume, and compete for space with other species. Out of the 10 species there are three producers, three sessile consumers (otherwise known as filter feeders), and four mobile consumers- one of which is an invasive species. In this environment the producers are Nori Seaweed (Porphyra), Black Pine (Neorhodomela), and Coral Weed (Corallina). Producers make their own food through sunlight, so only have predators and competition for space. Coral Weed is the strongest
Predators called prudent predators select prey of the highest quality and will switch prey when other foods become more profitable. Prudent predators show preference for the prey they consume, in order to maximise net energy gain per unit time. An important factor in predation-prey interactions is the rate at which individual predators can capture individual prey items. The response of the predator consumption rate to increases in prey density is called the functional response
Glibert, Patricia M. and Daniel E. Terlizzi. “Nutrients, Phytoplankton, and Pfiesteria In the Chesapeake Bay.” Available: http://www.arec.umd.edu/policy/Pfiesteria/terlizzi/terlizzi.htm (22 Nov. 1999).
The bay's harvest and many of its other attractions bring tourists and in turn revenue for the area. Oysters and blue crab are a big part of the culture in the bay area. However, these organisms are in danger and need help. Description of the problem Eutrophication is a concern in the Chesapeake Bay. Eutrophication is caused by excessive amounts of nutrients.
The Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) is an invasive saltwater predator that is increasing exponentially in the tropics of the western Atlantic (Benkwitt, 2013). The Lionfish invasion is causing a dramatic decline in native marine reef species due the gluttony of the lionfish.
Introduction Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals capable of spending their entire lives in water. Being carnivorous in nature, they feed on sea urchins, crabs, fishes, mussels and clams. They are referred to as keystone species due to their profound impact on marine ecology. The interaction between sea otters, sea urchins and kelp forests has been studied as a model for the impact of predator-prey interactions on community ecology. Sea otters are keystone predators, whose presence has a far-reaching influence on the marine food web by affecting the populations of sea urchins, which indirectly affects the populations of kelp forests & other marine organisms.
The Chesapeake Bay plays host to an astonishing amount of plant and animal life, providing much of our fish intake for species that aren’t being overfished. For the species that are being overdrawn, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is working to restore the populations, and it’s going well thus far. Another theme that is endangering the marine life populations as well as the health of the human population is the massive amount of polluti...
One of the Bays biggest resources is its oysters. Oysters are filter feeders which mean they feed on agley and clean the water. The oysters feed on agley and other pollutants in the bay turning them into food for them, then they condense the food down to nutrient and developed things like pearls.Filtering the water also helps the oyster to grow. One oyster can filter 50 gallons of water a day, Oysters used to be able to filter the Bay in about a week. However these creatures are now scarce in the bay. The Chesapeake Bays Oyster (crassostrea virginica) Population has declined severely because of over harvesting, agricultural runoff, and disease. Now the Chesapeake Bay is becoming polluted without the oysters and the water is not nearly as clean as it once was. The Chesapeake Bay was the first estuary in the nation to be targeted for restoration as an integrated watershed and ecosystem. (Chesapeake Bay Program n/d). This report will show the cause and effect of the Chesapeake Bay's Oyster decline on the Bay.
In New Hampshire it’s known as Qua-hogging, some even call it the devil’s work. However my fellow Baymen and I in Oyster Bay, NY call it clamming. There are many different kinds of clams that one may “clam”, I would like to focus on the hard shell clam “Mercenaria mercenaria.” The socioeconomic affect from clamming has effects on both the Baymen, their communities, as well as the Quahogs. Clamming has shaped entire communities in the New England area, creating a certain type of people, as well as ensuring the success of the quahog in the New England area. A particular place of focus for the commercial clamming industry is a small sleepy town called Oyster Bay, in NY.
Species such as the blue crab, oyster, and atlantic menhaden are three main commercial fishing outputs in the Chesapeake bay, but the recent algae blooms are devastating the harvest numbers of several different species. According to the oyster company of Virginia, over 20 million bushels of oysters were harvested every year during the peak of the oyster rush of the mid 1880’s. These numbers
Do you love the slimy,green,and gooey, flavor of kelp? Many people don't , not realizing
Seagrass is not just a food source for micro species, but also macro species such as manatees, turtles, dolphins and dugongs (Yamada and Kumagai 2012). These marine organisms are all supported directly and indirectly by seagrasses, with some entirely dependent on it. Seagrass is often underestimated in its significance as the vast role that it plays in the oceans ecosystem is not fully understood. ...