BAT 213
SUBTIDAL ECOSYSTEM
SUBTIDAL ECOSYSTEM
Marine areas that are never exposed
during low tide ie always submerged
Also known as sublittoral zone
Marine Zonation
SUBTIDAL ABIOTIC FACTORS
i) temperature fluctuates from one area to
another especially with depth
ii) 1 atm increase in pressure with 10 m depth
iii) strong influence of currents and waves
especially those in the shallow depths
iv) turbulence may prevent stratification
SUBTIDAL ABIOTIC FACTORS
v) rich in nutrients (brought in from river
discharges)
vi) influenced by sedimentation processes
(especially shallow areas)
- lithogenic sediments (physical and
chemical weathering of rocks)
- biogenic sediments (shells and skeletons
of marine organisms)
SUBTIDAL ORGANISMS
Plankton (suspended in water column)
Nekton (able to swim against current)
Benthos (on/in bottom sediment)
SUBTIDAL ORGANISMS
Factors that may influence subtidal organisms:
1. Water depth
2. Distance from land.
Distribution of Marine Life
A. Pelagic
Distribution of marine life
Distribution of Marine Life
A. Pelagic
B. Benthos
Distribution of marine life
Distribution of Marine Life
A. Pelagic
B. Benthos
1. Demersal
2. Epifauna
3. Infauna
Epifauna
Infauna
SUBTIDAL COMMUNITIES
A. Soft-bottom Subtidal Communities
B. Hard-bottom Subtidal Communities
SOFT-BOTTOM SUBTIDAL
COMMUNITIES
Made up of :
A. Muddy substrate
B. Sandy substrate
SOFT-BOTTOM SUBTIDAL
COMMUNITIES
Influenced by:
1. Particle size distribution
2. Sediment stability
3. light
4. salinity
5. temperature
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOFT-
BOTTOM SUBTIDAL COMMUNITIES
Type of dominant substrate ie sand, mud
etc.
Most infauna, some epifauna and almost
no sessile organisms
SOFT-BOTTOM SUBTIDAL
COMMUNITIES
More abundant than soft-bottom intertidal
communities
Less abiotic problems :
1. No problem with desication
2. Temperature and salinity more stable
DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS
Particle size influence distribution of infauna (?)
Particle size distribution (depending on depth)
Easier for organisms to borrow in sand compared to
mud (water drainage better in sand)
Patchy sediment type – patchy distribution of
organisms
DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANISMS
Some larvae choose substrate before undergoing
metamorphosis
Some larvae can detect adults and settle close by
SOFT-BOTTOM SUBTIDAL
ORGANISMS
1. infauna
Benthic organisms that bury themselves
in the sediment
2. epifauna
Organisms that inhabit the surface of
the bottom sediment
No. of subtidal sp. > intertidal (more stable, no dessication)
Distribution of organisms influenced by particle size (mud or
sand)
PRODUCTIVITY
Minimum productivity
(by diatoms and other microalgae)
Most communities based on ditritus
DEPOSIT FEEDERS
1. Polychaetes : accumulation using tentacles or by
ingestion of sediment
2. Sand dollars : use mucus to bring food to mouth
3. Bent nosed clam : collect sediment using siphon
4. Brittle stars : collect detritus using tube-feet
5. Peanut worms, sea cucumber, ghost
shrimp
Tube feeding by
polycheate,
Arenicola
Marina. Black
arrows show
water flow and
open arrows
show sediment
flow. Sediment
brought to
anoxic area,
digested and
deposited at
upper region of
shaft
Proboscis Gills
SUSPENSION/ FILTER FEEDERS
Cockles : water intake via siphon
Polychaetes and amphipods
Brittle star : traps particles using tube feet
Sea pens : traps particle from water column
Scavenger dan Predator
Shrimps and large crustaceans (scavenger)
Whelks dan moon snail : feed on other bivalves
Sea stars and crabs (can act as scavenger or
predator)
Rays and skates
Flounder, halibut and sole
Soft Bottom Communities
Soft Bottom Benthic Communities
HARD-BOTTOM SUBTIDAL
COMMUNITIES
Small subtidal communities
Some time they may be in the form of coral reefs
Hard substrate may include organisms that produce
calcium carbonate
Rich in epifauna but less as infauna
HARD-BOTTOM SUBTIDAL
COMMUNITIES
Rocky shore
Coral reefs
Most important organisms are the sea weeds (able
to settle on rocks/hard substrate
PRODUCERS
Most important communities - seaweeds
Strong competition
Amount of light influence distribution of sea weeds
Weeds that live in deep ocean. Sea weeds
established themselves.
Weeds found in area have higher chlorophyll
concentration
grazers
Invertebrates that move slowly. : sea urchin,
limpets, chitons, abalone
Algal defence against predators
- By having food that are not tasty
- Fast regenaration
- Calcification (formation of calcium)
Epipelagic
From surface to about 200 m
depth (euphotic zone)
Most inhabited depth of the
Ocean
Presence of light - photosynthesis
Mesopelagic
From about 200 m to 1000 m depth
‘twilight’ or disphotic zone
Available light mainly blue
Seasonal and diurnal vertical
migration (search for food)
Vertical migration can be up to 600 m
Fish (lanternfish – myctophids),
zooplankton (particularly crustaceans)
Lantern fish: Myctophid
most abundant fish in deep ocean
Myctophiid: Diaphus holti. About 7 cm long
Found at depth 40 – 275 night
225 – 650 day
Bathypelagic
From1000 to 3000 m depth
Zone of eternal darkness (aphotic
zone)
Abundance and diversity of organisms
sharply reduced (mainly due to lack of
food)
Abyssopelagic
From 3000 m to deepest part of
Ocean
Zone of eternal darkness (aphotic
zone)
Organisms usually colourless
Animals normally without eyes but
have ‘flashing’ organs that help them
catch food
Angler fish: Cryptopsaras couesi (18 in long)
Anoplogaster cornuta: Commonly calle ‘fangtooth’
Found at around 16,000 feet depth
