The Biosphere & Earth’s Environments

Galatheid Crabs

Vestimentiferan Worms

Smoker

Alvin1

1-The sub is named for Allyn Vine, a WHOI engineer and geophysicist who helped pioneer deep submergence research and technology.

Chemoautotrophs

• A milky green cloud in the water off Namibia marks an eruption of hydrogen sulfide gas from bacteria on the ocean floor.

• A milky green cloud of water off the Namib Desert coast of Namibia in southern Africa is a tell-tale sign of sulfur rising to the surface. The yellowish clouds of sulfur come from hydrogen sulfide gas produced by anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can live without oxygen) at the ocean floor. In this region, strong currents bring abundant food from the bottom of the ocean to nurture large plant and animal populations. As the surface life dies, it sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where it becomes food for anaerobic bacteria.. The bacteria release hydrogen sulfide gas, which produces pure sulfur when it reacts with oxygen near the surface. In the first stages of the reaction, the sulfur appears white, and in this image creates a milky-green green tinge to the water. When the transformation is more complete, the yellowish sulfur and the blue water will combine to make the plume appear very green.

• The hydrogen sulfide gas is highly toxic to fish. Periodic die-offs of whole populations of fish and other commercial seafood are ongoing concerns for the regional fishing industry.

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?id=19143

The gamma-Proteobacterium T. crunogena. Originally isolated from the East Pacific Rise, it was subsequently detected from deep-sea vents in both the Pacific and Atlantic.

Chemoautotroph

Ecology

What can we learn from this pic?

Abiotic Factors…

Biotic Factors

• Not only abiotic factors, but of course biotic factors also have a role in determining the vertical structure of ecosystems. In this picture taken on the West side of Race Rocks at a very low tide, you can see how the pulled back overhanging canopy of the green surfgrass Phyllospadix, creates the shelter necessary for a variety of invertebrate species. Go here for other intertidal images from this area.

Hmmm…How did zebras get their stripes???

Interaction of natural selection, organism & environment

Climate?

• Latitude & Longitude

• Incident Solar Radiation

• Wind

• Topography

• Rainfall

Climate

Biomes of the World

Biomes

• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/

Ocean Zones