Biological factors and Adaptations within the ocean

The 3 main Biological factors in the ocean that influence life are Producers, Comsumers and Decomposers.

Blue Crab (Decomposer)

Galapagos Shark(consumer)

Seaweed(Producer)

Biological Factors

ProducersProducers (or Autotrophs), are the beginning of all food chains, without them nothing would be able to survive.

Producers can be categorized as chemotrophs or phototrophs.

Through the process of photosynthesis, phototrophs can use energy from the sun to turn carbon dioxide into organic compounds that are required for living. They will mostly make sugars but also carbohydrates and other essential nutrients. Phototrophs can be plants in the ocean anywhere from algae to seaweed.

Chemotrophs are a type of autotroph who through the process of oxidation can gain energy from the electron donors in their environment. This means that a chemotroph can lose or gain electrons and when it does this energy is released from the electrons which they can use as energy. Chemotrophs gain most of their energy from deep sea hydrothermal vents or cold seeps.

Hydrothermal vent

Phytoplankton

ConsumerAny organism that cannot create food for itself is a consumer, or also known as a heterotroph. These organisms cannot go through the process of carbon fixation, which means they cannot reduce carbon dioxide into organic compounds that are used for nutrients. They can gain their nutrients from other sources such as eating other animals or eating producers.

Consumers can be further broken down into 3 groups; omnivores, carnivores and herbivores.Carnivores: consumers of meat.Omnivores: consumers of meat or plants.Herbivore: consumer of plants.

Heterotrophs make up over 95% of all living organisms. Some examples of consumers within the ocean are sharks, manta rays or whales.

DecomposerDecomposers, or saprotrophs are one of the most important biological factors in our ecosystems. After something dies and begins to decay or rot then a decomposer will help with this process. In the process of decomposition the matter is broken down into simpler substances and therefore the decomposer recycles the dead matter in our environment. Decomposers are mostly found as bacteria, and the amount of bacteria in our earth exceeds that of all the living plants and animals combined. Some of the better known decomposers that we will find in our ocean are hermit crabs.

SALT

WATER

Camouflage

Temperature

Wind & Waves

Vampire Squid

HONEY COMB COWFISH

Sea Cucumbers