checkpoint 1: Mermaids in the Carribean by Rachita Prabhu

What is the underwater climate of your marine ecosystem?

craziewolverine — 2025-01-14 18:43:19 UTC

The Carribean Sea is warm, clear and has lower salinity levels than the neighboring Atlantic.

Producer: Seagrass

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:40:44 UTC

Provides energy for primary consumers by converting sunlight into food via photosynthesis.

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:45:23 UTC

Producer: Organisms that create their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, serving as the base of the food chain.
Primary Consumer: Herbivores that feed on producers.
Secondary Consumer: Carnivores or omnivores that feed on primary consumers.
Tertiary Consumer: Top predators that feed on secondary consumers, often at the top of the food chain.
Decomposer: Organisms that break down dead material and recycle nutrients into the ecosystem.

Producer: Phytoplankton

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:47:11 UTC

Microscopic algae that are the primary producers in aquatic environments.

Primary Consumer: Queen Conch

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:48:15 UTC

Grazes on seagrass and algae, transferring energy to higher trophic levels.

Primary Consumer: Parrotfish

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:49:02 UTC

Feeds on algae growing on coral reefs, playing a role in reef health.

Secondary Consumer: Spiny Lobster

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:49:52 UTC

Consumes primary consumers like small mollusks and detritus.

Secondary Consumer: Barracuda

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:51:42 UTC

Feeds on smaller fish like parrotfish, transferring energy to top predators.

Tertiary Consumer: Caribbean Reef Shark

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:52:13 UTC

Top predator, preying on secondary consumers like barracudas and spiny lobsters.

Decomposer: Sea Cucumber

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:52:43 UTC

Breaks down organic matter on the seafloor, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Describe the water temperature, salinity, movement, depth, and color of your aquatic ecosystem.

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:58:28 UTC

The Caribbean Sea typically has warm waters ranging from 75°F to 85°F (24°C to 29°C). Temperatures are consistent throughout the year, but shallow waters may fluctuate slightly with seasonal changes.
The salinity averages 35 parts per thousand (ppt), consistent with most oceanic saltwater ecosystems.
Ocean currents such as the Caribbean Current drive water movement. Coral reef areas experience gentle waves, while deeper regions can have stronger currents.
The ecosystem ranges from shallow 0–100 feet (0–30 meters) near coral reefs and seagrass beds to deeper areas exceeding 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) in trenches like the Cayman Trough.
The water is typically a vivid turquoise in shallow areas due to sunlight reflecting off the sandy bottom and clear waters. Deeper areas appear deep blue.

How much sunlight does your ecosystem receive each day?

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 15:59:31 UTC

Shallow areas, like coral reefs, receive 6–12 hours of direct sunlight daily, depending on the season. Deeper areas receive less light.

Based on the amount of sunlight it receives each day, what aquatic zone do they live in?

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 16:00:14 UTC

Most organisms live in the euphotic zone, where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis. Deeper areas extend into the disphotic zone, where light is dim.

Is your water source freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water?

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 16:01:50 UTC

The Carribean water is saltwater.

Is your ecosystem connected to a freshwater source?

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 16:02:58 UTC

The Caribbean Sea connects to freshwater sources through rivers like the Orinoco and Amazon, which introduce nutrients and sediments into coastal areas.

What seasonal changes occur in your ecosystem?

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 16:03:42 UTC

There is little temperature fluctuations occur throughout the year. During the rainy season, increased runoff brings nutrients but also raises turbidity. In the dry season, clearer waters dominate. Seasonal storms can damage coral reefs and disrupt ecosystems.

What would happen to the food web if all of the primary consumers became extinct? Explain and give examples.

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 16:04:49 UTC

Producers like seagrass and algae would overgrow, disrupting coral reef health. Secondary consumers like spiny lobsters and barracudas would lose their food source and decline in population.

Example: The extinction of parrotfish would lead to algae overgrowth, suffocating corals and collapsing the reef ecosystem.

What would happen if all of the decomposers were removed? Explain and give examples.

craziewolverine — 2025-01-16 16:05:53 UTC

Organic matter like dead plants and animals would accumulate, reducing water quality and oxygen levels. Nutrient cycling would stop, starving producers and eventually collapsing the food web.

Example: Without sea cucumbers and bacteria, detritus on the seafloor would build up, suffocating seagrass beds and killing organisms relying on them.