Inshore marine habitat
Inshore Marine Habitat includes any organisms that mainly keep close to the water. The type of soil you find around an Inshore Marine Habitat mainly consist of sand. Within that sand is a mixture between silt, clay and shell fragments. The soil is constantly being saturated since it's location is in the ocean. This type of habitat contains sea water that is diluted by land runoff. Important reasons as to why there is such diversity in this ecosystem is because the water temperature is moderate, the salinity, and the dissolved oxygen. The type of hydroperiod is what determines what particular soils and vegetation are present. Since Inshore Marine Habitat is constantly underwater the hydroperiod isn't seasonal and constantly contains about the same amount of vegetation year-round.
The Primary producers found in Lovers Key Inshore Marine Habitat are such:
Turtle Grass (Thalassia testudinum)
Turtle Grass is the largest and most common of all Florida sea grasses. The common name "turtle grass" refers to green sea turtles that graze on large fields of this type of sea grass. There are three to five blades per rhizome node (the somewhat elongated portion of a plant's stem that is underground).
Turtle Grass is the largest and most common of all Florida sea grasses. The common name "turtle grass" refers to green sea turtles that graze on large fields of this type of sea grass. There are three to five blades per rhizome node (the somewhat elongated portion of a plant's stem that is underground).
Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme)
Manatee Grass is mostly found in estuaries but it also found along the coast of Southwest Florida as well. The blades of this seagrass are cylindrical with two to four blades arising from each rhizome node. It is called Manatee Grass because it is the most common food for the beautiful yet endangered manatees.
Manatee Grass is mostly found in estuaries but it also found along the coast of Southwest Florida as well. The blades of this seagrass are cylindrical with two to four blades arising from each rhizome node. It is called Manatee Grass because it is the most common food for the beautiful yet endangered manatees.
Shoal Grass (Halodule wrightii)
Shoal Grass is typically found where manatee and turtle grass isn't found. This is because shoal grass can handle much harsher conditions than others. Although shoal grass commonly occurs in estuarine waters with salinities of 10-25 parts per thousand, it also forms dense patches in high salinty areas exposed to wave energy or in tidal flats.
Shoal Grass is typically found where manatee and turtle grass isn't found. This is because shoal grass can handle much harsher conditions than others. Although shoal grass commonly occurs in estuarine waters with salinities of 10-25 parts per thousand, it also forms dense patches in high salinty areas exposed to wave energy or in tidal flats.
Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens)
Paddle grass can be found on the continental shelf near the Indian River Lagoon, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Indo-West Pacific.. Lover's Key lies right on the Gulf of Mexico so paddle grass can be found in shallow waters. .The paddle grass resembles Johnson’s seagrass, but is distinguishable by a finely serrated leaf margin and a paddle-shaped green blade terminating with a rounded tip.
Paddle grass can be found on the continental shelf near the Indian River Lagoon, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Indo-West Pacific.. Lover's Key lies right on the Gulf of Mexico so paddle grass can be found in shallow waters. .The paddle grass resembles Johnson’s seagrass, but is distinguishable by a finely serrated leaf margin and a paddle-shaped green blade terminating with a rounded tip.
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are almost always forgotten when it comes to producers in the ocean. The name comes from the Greek words φυτόν (phyton), meaning "plant", and πλαγκτός (planktos), meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Phytoplankton are photosynthesizing microscopic organisms that inhabit the upper sunlit layer of almost all oceans and bodies of fresh water.
Phytoplankton are almost always forgotten when it comes to producers in the ocean. The name comes from the Greek words φυτόν (phyton), meaning "plant", and πλαγκτός (planktos), meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Phytoplankton are photosynthesizing microscopic organisms that inhabit the upper sunlit layer of almost all oceans and bodies of fresh water.
The animals that can be found in Lovers Key Inshore Marine Habitat are such:
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Batfish
Batfish can be fond along the coast pretty much anywhere. The head and trunk are broad and flattened, often triangular, with a projecting snout, or rostrum. In appearance it might be mistaken for a piece of rock because of the grayish yellow and white colors that are blended. Batfish are not good swimmers; they use their pectoral fins to “walk” on the ocean floor. |
Sea Urchins
Sea urchins feed mainly on algae, but can also feed on sea cucumbers and a wide range of invertebrates, such as mussels, polychaetes, sponges, brittle stars, and crinoids.
Sea urchins feed mainly on algae, but can also feed on sea cucumbers and a wide range of invertebrates, such as mussels, polychaetes, sponges, brittle stars, and crinoids.
Horseshoe Crab
Horseshoe crab’s superpower blue blood is a bacteria fighting machine, and scientists are literally borrowing this trick to help test medical injections for contamination. When a horseshoe crab is cut, the wound is immediately slathered in bacteria from its murky surroundings.
Horseshoe crab’s superpower blue blood is a bacteria fighting machine, and scientists are literally borrowing this trick to help test medical injections for contamination. When a horseshoe crab is cut, the wound is immediately slathered in bacteria from its murky surroundings.
Food Web in Inshore Marine Habitat
The interesting thing about Inshore habitats is that there are many things to eat and many things that enjoy eating. You get constant vegetation and sun light, which is perfect for most marine life. As to most food webs it starts off as producers, such as the phytoplankton. Many animals like to eat these producers for energy. These animals are called primary consumers because they eat non carnivorous organisms. An example of a primary consumer would be coral. Then there are secondary consumers, like a sea urchin. Sea urchins enjoy to eat sea cucumbers and mussels. Since mussels and sea cucumbers eat non carnivorous organisms, sea urchins are considered secondary consumers. There are also many omnivores (eats both plant and meat) in this ecosystem, like the Batfish. Batfish enjoys eating many other fish but also eats sea grass and other producers. Batfish is also considered a tertiary consumer because the Batfish is an animal that eats carnivorous animals.
The interesting thing about Inshore habitats is that there are many things to eat and many things that enjoy eating. You get constant vegetation and sun light, which is perfect for most marine life. As to most food webs it starts off as producers, such as the phytoplankton. Many animals like to eat these producers for energy. These animals are called primary consumers because they eat non carnivorous organisms. An example of a primary consumer would be coral. Then there are secondary consumers, like a sea urchin. Sea urchins enjoy to eat sea cucumbers and mussels. Since mussels and sea cucumbers eat non carnivorous organisms, sea urchins are considered secondary consumers. There are also many omnivores (eats both plant and meat) in this ecosystem, like the Batfish. Batfish enjoys eating many other fish but also eats sea grass and other producers. Batfish is also considered a tertiary consumer because the Batfish is an animal that eats carnivorous animals.