(Estd: AUG.

2002)

Department of Geology
University of Kerala
Kariavattom 695 581
Director: Prof. Thrivikramji.K.P.
WEBSITE ON MARINE-ECOSYSTEM
NEWSLETTER ON MARINE-ECOSYSTEM
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WEBSITE CREATED READY TO UPLOAD
IN JAN. 2003
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 CATALOGUED
78 Ph.D theses of Dept. Aquatic Biology
& Fisheries, University of Kerala
271 reprints
24 M.Phil Dissertations
Bibliography with abstracts 414 (Year
2001)
Bibliography with abstracts 500 from
1838 1938
First Newsletter on Marine Ecosystem
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RELEASE OF FUND INSTALLMENTS
BASED ON CA S AUDIT REPORT.
A New Frontier Under Siege - A Profile
Cover 71% of Earth s surface
play key roles in the survival of virtually all
life on Earth.
Distributes solar heat.
Maintains the hydrologic cycle
Regulates earth s climate
gigantic reservoir of carbon dioxide - regulate
temperature of troposphere.
home for ~ 250,000 species of marine plants
and animals - food for many other organisms,
including humans
warehouse of iron, sand, gravel, phosphates,
magnesium, oil, natural gas.
great buffer.
1. The Coastal Zone

Relatively warm; nutrient-rich; shallow

water- extends from high-tide mark on
land to gently shallow continental shelf
Makes up 10% of ocean s area, coastal
zone=90% of all marine species & site of
large commercial marine fisheries
Coastal zone -
shallow;ample supply of
sunlight and plant
nutrients-deposits
terrigenous - stirred by
wind, waves, tides and
currents.
High primary productivity
Estuaries:
Coastal areas at mouths of rivers
- fresh water with fertile silt &
mix with salty seawater.
Lots of nutrients available to
producers.
Coastal land covered with
salt water.
Excellent breeding grounds
and habitats for waterfowl &
wildlife.
Recreational sites
Protect quality of coastal water by diluting,
filtering, settling out sediments, excess
nutrients, and pollutants.
Buffer shore property from storms.
Serve as nurseries play-pens for shrimps,
aquatic animals
Part of coastal zone
Tropical and
subtropical oceans
World s oldest and
most diverse
productive ecosystems
- marine equivalent of
tropical rainforest.
2. THE OPEN SEA

Sharp increase in water depth at the edge

of continental shelf; separates the coastal
zone from open sea.
Contains 10% of all marine species
Open sea divided into 3 vertical zones
based primarily on penetration of
sunlight.
euphotic, bathyal, abyssal zones
Euphotic zone: light - photosynthesis
occurs here. (coastal zone - all euphotic)
Bathyal zone: dimly lit
Abyssal zone= dark; found only in open sea
Supports large populations of floating &
drifting producers= phytoplanktons
(cyanobacteria; protists)
Phytoplanktonsfed upon by larger
zooplanktons (single-celled to jellyfish)
Variety of consumers feed on these -from
baleen whales to herrings, anchovies.
Dead and decaying organisms fall to the
ocean floor - feed decomposers &
scavengers - crabs & sea urchins
Open sea - average primary productivity
quite low.
Because sunlight can t penetrate the
lower layers - though some
chemosynthesis is used by some bacteria.
Oil drilling is the
enemy of
marine diversity
but actually
small impact
Overexploitation
e.g. Grouper
Incidental to
fishing e.g. turtles;
dolphins
If looked at old
growth forest in
Pacific North west
good biodiversity
if eliminate
structural
complexity
destroy biodiversity
Trawling catches lots of
bycatches 95% not
shrimp (trawl trash
biodiversity )-- Only 5%
are shrimp
Leave long lasting
destruction on the
bottom very similar to
clear cutting
Forest loss worldwide is approximately
100, 000 km2 Area trawled is equal to
14.8 million km2
Sport fishermen and fishing industry
biggest opponent