FLORA AND FAUNA OF MARINE

ECOSYSTEM

PRESENTED BY :
SANJAI.M

ANS22422

GROUP – 09
 MARINE ECOSYSTEM

WHAT ARE MARINE ECOSYSTEM?

The marine ecosystem is a kind of aquatic ecosystem, characterized by having salty water as its
main component. Marine ecosystems include different ecosystems, such as seas, oceans, salt
marshes, coral reefs, shallow coastal waters, estuaries, coastal saltwater lagoons, rocky shores, and
coastal areas.

As we can imagine, a wide variety of marine ecosystems together support an astonishing diversity
of plants and animals. In the next part we will see what marine plants and groups of marine animals
make up the biodiversity of these ecosystems, and the main physical and chemical characteristics
that define them.

The collection of all marine ecosystems occupies 70% of the earth’s surface. Marine ecosystems are
distributed in different biogeographic regions. They are included in the group of aquatic ecosystems.
They are composed of water with dissolved salt as the main component. The density of salt water is
higher than that of other freshwater aquatic ecosystems, which guarantees the survival of marine plants
and animals that adapt to this high water density.

There are two types of areas, depending on whether they receive sunlight, to distinguish between bright
areas and non-illuminated areas. The normal functioning of marine ecosystems depends largely on ocean
currents, the functions of ocean currents are based on mobilizing and transporting various nutrients, so
that the flora and fauna that inhabit these complex ecosystems can develop and survive.

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Marine ecosystems are the source of enormous biological wealth, made up of different
biological factors, such as production organisms (plants) and primary consumers (fish and
mollusks), secondary consumers (small carnivorous fish) and tertiary consumers (large
carnivorous fish). Size) and decaying organisms (bacteria and fungi). In turn, certain abiotic
factors define the characteristics of these natural ecosystems, such as the temperature,
salinity and pressure of its waters, and the amount of sunlight it receives.

FLORA AND FAUNA OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM

Countless plants, including submerged and emerging species and floating species, make up the
rich plant biodiversity of all marine ecosystems. Directly related to the physical and chemical
characteristics of the types of marine ecosystems that inhabit, these species they will show some
or other forms of life and will also have certain important needs.

Algae are an excellent flora of the marine ecosystem. A wide variety of families, genera, and
species make the marine ecosystem teeming with life and color, and they are divided into the
commonly known brown, red, or green algae. Some are microscopic (diatoms and dinoflagellates),
while others are considered macroalgae, notably the giant stratified algae of the genus
Macrocystis. Algae always adapt to the temperature and other physical and chemical
characteristics of the waters where they grow and live, and are distributed in marine ecosystems in
all regions of the world.

In addition to seaweed, the flora of marine ecosystems also includes several species of plants,
including so-called seaweeds (ringed flower family, Cymodoceaceae, Ruppiaceae and
Posidoniaceae), which are the only flowering plants in these ecosystems; mangroves (including
mangroves: Rhizophora mangle and white mangroves: Laguncularia racemosa and other species)
and abundant phytoplankton.

The oceans, coasts and other marine ecosystems constitute some of the most biologically diverse
habitats in the world, animals of different groups, families and species coexist in a biological

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balance. Vertebrates and invertebrates large and small, just like microorganisms, they
harmoniously coexist in the earth’s marine ecosystem.

FLORA

Flora of aquatic ecosystems

The flora in aquatic is very diverse. The freshwater ecosystems that include rivers, lakes or wetlands, among
others, are one of the most fertile areas and therefore, where we can find the greatest biodiversity of
vegetation. The beach areas, on the other hand, are not very hospitable substrates for the various plants
due to their salinity.

Most marine flora consists of microscopic algae called phytoplankton, which float on the surface and
produce through photosynthesis about half of the oxygen that humans and other land creatures breathe. In
addition, underwater plants contribute to the stabilization of sandy areas.

Marine floras (ie, plants from the sea) primarily include brown, blue, green, blue-green, and red algae. The
most commonly used marine floras are brown algae (kombu/kelp, wakame, and arame). Marine flora
contains a number of minerals and they provide nutraceutical benefits in addition to being an important
component of diet, but cannot per se serve as full foods. They are a good source of bioavailable iron. A
tablespoon of dried marine flora contains 0.5–35 mg iron and a measurable amount of vitamin C; the latter
acts to increase the bioavailability of plant iron. They are unique in their iodine content. They also contain
mineral vanadium, which is highly useful in regulating carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar. It
probably achieves this by increasing our body’s sensitivity to insulin by inhibiting enzymetyrosine
phosphatases thereby decreasing production of glucose and helping store starch in the form of glycogen.
Marine floras contain a variety of nonflavonoid and noncarotenoid antioxidants as also alkaloid
antioxidants; and sulfated polysaccharides, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral
properties, particularly against HSV-1 and HSV-2. They also lower cholesterol and consequently estrogen
and the associated risk of breast cancer. The lifelong use of marine floras modifies certain aspects of
women’s menstrual cycle to decrease cumulative estrogen that occurs during the follicular phase of the
menstrual cycle in women, thereby minimizing the risk of breast cancer.

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Algae have been subjects of scientific evaluation and scrutiny by various researchers. For example, Kenyon
and Stanier (1970) examined the possible evolutionary significance of polyunsaturated fatty acids in blue-
green algae. In a further study, Kenyon et al. (1972) identified fatty acid composition and physiological
properties of some filamentous blue-green algae. Likewise, Allen (1972) examined and discussed
mesosomes in blue-green algae. Schwartz et al. (1990) examined various aspects related to
pharmaceuticals from cultured algae. Hamann et al. (1993, 1996) identified bioactive depsipeptides (known
as kahalalides) from the green alga Bryopsis sp., which is also the diet of a marine mollusk Elysia rufescens
(Hamann et al., 1996). Trimurtulu et al. (1994) identified the total structures of cryptophycins, which are
potent antitumor depsipeptides from the blue-green alga Nostoc sp. Strain Gsv-224. Pietra (1997) has
discussed the achievements and prospects of secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms such as
bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and algae. Suzuki and Vairappan (2005) have addressed halogenated secondary
metabolites from Japanese species of the red algal genus Laurencia (Rhodomelaceae, Ceramiales).

It may be noted that beneficial algae are found not only in seawater but also in freshwater bodies. For
example, Piorreck et al. (1984) examined biomass production, total protein, chlorophylls, lipids, and fatty
acids of freshwater green and blue-green algae under different nitrogen regimes.

TYPES OF OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM:

Wetland: It refers to the entrance of a bay or river where the salinity is lower than what we can find in the
high seas. It can be said that it is an intermediate zone between salt water and fresh water. They are very
fertile areas.

Swamps: They are regions of salt water or lagoon. Land that absorbs water from oceans and rivers, the
water is very calm and there is hardly any movement. As a habitat, it provides many resources for fish,
different types of mollusks, and insects.

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Estuary: It is the estuary of the rivers of the coast, with changes in salinity, continuously receiving the
Aguadulce river. The evil that we can find can be crabs, oysters, snakes and even me and many types of
birds, as well as other species.

Mangroves: They are forests that develop in the middle channel between the estuary and the sea. The
main vegetation is a small forest adapted to brackish water. In the mangrove waters, we also have a great
variety of fish, shrimp or a variety of reptiles, which use the trees as shelter or simply as food.

Sea meadows: They are coastal waters with a depth of about 25 m, the waves are not very strong and the
river carries almost no sediment. One of the main functions of seagrass beds is to prevent coastal erosion.

FAUNA

Fauna of aquatic ecosystems

In aquatic ecosystems, we find an infinite variety of animals, from fish, amphibians, marine and freshwater
mammals, to some aquatic birds and reptiles that spend much of their lives in the water or near the shore.
Aquatic ecosystems are thus considered to be incredibly diverse.

Most aquatic animals breathe through gills, but that is not the only way animals breathe in this
environment. Some aquatic animals are even able to breathe through their skin. If you want to learn more
about this way of breathing, do not miss this other article about skin breathing.

What are marine fauna?

For the purposes of EIA, marine fauna are defined as:

Animals that live in the ocean or rely on the ocean for all or part of their lives.Marine fauna are highly
diverse and range in size from microscopic zooplankton to the Blue whale. Marine fauna that live their
entire life in the ocean include sharks, whales, Dolphins, dugongs, sea snakes, most fish and crustaceans.
Marine fauna are also animals That either leave or enter the ocean for breeding or resting purposes, such

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as turtles, seals And sea lions, penguins, and crabs. Other animals such as seabirds can also be
consideredAs marine fauna as they rely on fish and other marine life for food. While animals such As
sponges and corals that are attached to the seabed are also marine fauna, they are Typically considered
under the environmental factor of Benthic Communities and Habitats.

How this factor links with other environmental factors

The EPA recognises that there are inherent links between the factor Marine Fauna and other
Environmental factors. For example, impacts to marina fauna can result from changes to Marine
Environmental Quality and Benthic Communities and Habitats. While impacts to these Associated values
will be addressed under the relevant environmental factor, the EPA will Consider the impacts to marine
fauna in concert with these other factors in order to assess Impacts on an ecosystem’s integrity as a whole.

The environmental objective for Marine Fauna

The EPA’s objective for the factor Marine Fauna is: ‘To protect marine fauna so that Biological diversity and
ecological integrity are maintained’.In the context of this objective:Ecological integrity is the composition,
structure, function and processes of Ecosystems, and the natural variation of these elements.This objective
acknowledges the importance of protecting marine fauna for their ecological Roles. The EPA also recognises
the iconic nature of many of these animals and the importance Society places on them, including traditional
aboriginal cultural usage. The larger species are Seen by many as indicators of the ‘health’ of the marine
environment.

Considerations for Environmental Impact Assessment

Considerations for EIA for the factor Marine Fauna include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• application of the mitigation hierarchy, to avoid and minimise impacts to marine Fauna, wherever
possible

• the marine fauna species affected by the proposal

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• the management measures and approaches proposed and whether they are Technically and practically
feasible

• the spatial and temporal scale of the residual impacts to marine fauna and the Flow-on implications for
ecological integrity and/or biodiversity

• the current state of knowledge of the affected species of marine fauna and the level Of confidence
underpinning the predicted residual impacts

• the risk posed to marine fauna should those predictions be incorrect.Environmental values of marine
fauna, and their significance All species of marine fauna are important and are part of the broader marine
and coastal Ecosystem. However some of these species, or even groups of species, have critical roles to Play
in maintaining key ecological functions and processes within the ecosystem. For some Species, the number
of individuals have declined to levels where they are now considered Threatened under State
legislation.Other species are of social, cultural and/or economic significance to Western Australians. These
include commercially and recreationally important fish as well as iconic species Important to local or
regional communities such as turtles and dugongs.

Fauna & Flora’s work to protect marine biodiversity

Fauna & Flora has been protecting and restoring marine habitats for decades. Today, we have a dedicated
marine team, and our projects span the Americas, Eurasia, Africa, and Asia-Pacific regions.

 Our marine programme has three key pillars:

 Safeguarding marine species and habitats through effective local management
 Tackling the wider threats to marine ecosystems through improved policy and practice
 Strengthening the ability of local and national organisations (including community-based
organisations) to protect their marine environments

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IMPORTANCE

The marine ecosystem, origin of life and source of a gigantic and sometimes unknown diversity of regions,
marine plants, marine animals, microorganisms and organic molecules. Although the appearance of marine
ecosystems seems homogeneous, the reality is that it is one of the most heterogeneous ecosystems on the
planet, with very different characteristics from the poles to the tropics, as well as from one side of the
world to the other. The communities of living beings that coexist in the saltwater ecosystems They
demonstrate the great variety and richness of these regions, thus constituting places full of life in
mangroves and reefs, in the pelagic systems of the open sea and even in the deep sea.

In this article by Ecologist Verde you will discover one of the most precious and at the same time
threatened ecosystems on the planet, the marine ecosystem: what is it, characteristics, flora and fauna.

Numerous plants, both submerged and emerging and floating species, constitute the rich plant biodiversity
of each and every one of the marine ecosystems. Directly related to the physical-chemical characteristics of
the type of marine ecosystem in which they inhabit, these species will present some or other forms of life,
also having certain vital needs.

Fauna of marine ecosystems

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The marine ecosystem, origin of life and source of a gigantic and sometimes unknown diversity of regions,
marine plants, marine animals, microorganisms and organic molecules. Although the appearance of marine
ecosystems seems homogeneous, the reality is that it is one of the most heterogeneous ecosystems on the
planet, with very different characteristics from the poles to the tropics, as well as from one side of the
world to the other. The communities of living beings that coexist in the saltwater ecosystems They

9
demonstrate the great variety and richness of these regions, thus constituting places full of life in
mangroves and reefs, in the pelagic systems of the open sea and even in the deep sea.

In this article by Ecologist Verde you will discover one of the most precious and at the same time
threatened ecosystems on the planet, the marine ecosystem: what is it, characteristics, flora and fauna.

Seaweed: the most widespread

The seaweed (Kingdom Algae) they constitute par excellence the flora of marine ecosystems. A great
variety of families, genera and species fill marine ecosystems with life and color, grouping themselves into
those commonly known as brown algae (protist organisms – Class Phaeophyceae), red (Phylum Rodophyta)
or green (Eukaryotic Plants – Clorophyta Division). Some are microscopic (diatoms and dinoflagellates),
while others are considered macroalgae, highlighting the gigantic laminar algae of the genus Macrocystis.
They have very varied forms of life and different habits, thus existing algae that float and many others that
live fixed to the seabed, on rocks or sometimes even on animals or other plants. Always adapted to the
temperatures and other physical-chemical characteristics of the waters in which they grow and live, algae
are distributed throughout marine ecosystems in all regions of the world.

CONCLUSION

Hence, we can understand Flora and fauna hugely contribute towards human existence as they play a role
in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Plants are responsible for producing
Oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide, and most of the fauna do the vice versa.

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