OCEAN BIOME: Riches beneath us

Biome is a community where life forms live and bread. It is a

large community of plants and animals that live in the same major
habitat. Ocean is the largest biome of the world. It covers nearly
three-quarters of the earth’s surface. The ocean holds an estimated
230000 species that we know about. Scientist think that there
might be 10 times more species. There are 5 ocean biomes. Each
biome has 4 zones-intertidal, abyssal, pelagic and benthic. The
intertidal zone is where the sea meets land. In this area water level
keeps changing because of tides. So the life forms found in this
area are different. At the top level algae, mollusks are found. At
the middle starfishes are found. At the down level seaweeds,
invertebrates are found. The abyssal zone is the deepest part of
the ocean. It is very cold, highly pressured, high in oxygen, low
in nutrients, no sunlight can penetrate, food is scarce here. In this
area some fishes can produce light for themselves that is called
bio-luminescence. Mainly bacteria and invertebrate creatures are
found here. The pelagic zone is the open ocean. Water is clear,
high in oxygen. There are enough phytoplankton and
zooplankton. Climate diversity is seen. Warm water mixes with
cold water. Dolphins, sharks, whales are the main creatures here.
The last zone is the benthic zone. Seaweeds, bacteria, fungi,
sponges are main variety of flora and fauna here. Apart from these
main zone there are other biomes like coral reef- the great barrier
reef of Australia. These biomes are important parts of
environment. Every year about 200 billion pounds of fishes are
caught from the sea. Tuna, swordfish, herring, sardine are caught
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in the open seas. Coastal areas are used for marine fisheries.
Ocean is a source of oxygen. It is not just the ocean life that
depends on the phytoplankton. These tiny plants produce over
half the oxygen that we, and all other animals, breathe. Ocean is
the largest sink of C02. small plants need oxygen to grow up. As
the number of these plants are huge, so CO2 consumption is also
huge. Ocean is an increasingly important source of biomedical
organisms with enormous potential for fighting disease. All these
animals and plants are actually the wealth of the earth. They feed
on and support. Their contribution can’t be ignored. There are
hills, trees, under the sea. Nowadays because of climate change,
global warming, pollution biomes are in a position to be wiped
out. Marine animal populations are linked to global warming.
Rise of temperature, melting snow are ruining their habitat. They
are to use more energy that they can’t afford. Trash, sewage, oil
spilling, releasing chemicals, thermal pollution and even noise
pollution are great threat to marine life. Man develop marine areas
by filling. Large restoration projects concern the marine
environment. Accidental introduction of alien species is also a
reason for their destruction. Caulerpa taxifolia is Australian green
algae. If it is released to ocean it kills everything. These are
normally used for special purpose. But sometimes these may get
in the open ocean. Recently these type of accidents are seen. Now
what can we do? We have things to do. We must reduce the use
of plastic, clean up our local beaches, reduce consumption of
energy and fuel as it is helpful to reduce global warming, should
not keep ocean creatures as pet, talk more seriously with our
neighbours, raise awareness, always recycle the waste products,
become sustainable sea food shopper, seriously consider our
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restaurant choices, support the organizations that are helping to
save ocean biomes.
Our developments have started to take heavy tool on their
existence. They are our wealth. It must be remembered that our
existence is closely related to their existence. So for the sake of
present necessities and the future generation we must preserve
these biomes.