MARINE BIOMES Introduction The marine biomes, which are saltwater environment, are the biggest biome in the world. It covers about 71% of the earth. Marine biomes form a category of aquatic biome uniting estuaries, oceans, seas and coral reefs. Did you know…? The marine biome is located by the ocean or sea in lots of places.
It is imperative that we remember just what SeaWorld continues to contribute towards the welfare of Orcas in the wild. Seaworld has contributed 70 million dollars to the care of its captive Orcas, ensuring that they have 24/7 care from vets, behavioural phycologists and many others. To put that into perspective, SeaWorld has put in more money into the welfare of their whales than Britain has given to desperately poor countries in 3 years. !
Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 70 to 140 billion gallons of water are used to fracture 35,000 wells in the United States each year. This is approximately the annual water consumption of 40 to 80 cities each with a population of 50,000. Fracture treatments incoalbed methane wells use from 50,000 to 350,000 gallons of water per well, while deeper horizontal shale wells can use anywhere from 2 to 10 million gallons of water to fracture a single well. The extraction of so much water for fracking has raised concerns about the ecological impacts to aquatic resources, as well asdewatering of drinking water aquifers. It has been estimated that the transportation of a million gallons of water (fresh or waste water) requires 200 truck trips.
Approximately 95 million years ago, the ancestor of today’s dolphin, the Mesonix, roamed the earth. It was a land animal that went into the water to eat. It had front legs and back legs and was covered with hair. Plenty of the research that has been conducted shows that this is with the Artiodactyl order. It is believed that the ancestors of dolphins that we know today entered the water about 50 million years ago!
The Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef and most diverse place on the planet. Located off the coast of Queensland in Australia, it is the only living thing on Earth visible from space. Stretching 1,250 miles and made up of 3,000 different reefs, the Great Barrier Reef contains over 400 species of coral, 1,800 species of fish, 5,000 types of mollusks, 125 species of sharks/rays, 30 species of whales/dolphins and 6 out of 7 endangered sea turtles. All of these organisms support the naturally expanding and eroding Great Barrier Reef. However, human impact is causing the vulnerable Reef to change at too fast of a rate, and recovery is uncertain.
Although these nutrients are essential to maintain plant and animal life, excessive amounts are detrimental. There are many fresh water streams and rivers that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. These streams and rivers are known as tributaries. Of all the tributaries, the Susquehanna, Potomac, and the James River account for 97 percent of the nitrogen entering the bay (Zynjuk, 1995). The United States Geological survey states 600 million pounds of nitrogen entered the bay through these three rivers in a two year span (Zynjuk, 1995).
Freshwater is used for public water supplies, irrigation, industrial processes, and cooling electric power plants (OECD, 2013). The average family of four uses about six hundred liters of water per day (Porteous, 2000). The concern is if the freshwater supply is not protected and conserved, the planet will run out and if this happens the planet will not survive. Approximately seventy five percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, as oceans, rivers, glaciers, snow or lakes (Singh, 2008). Singh reports that “Only three percent of water globally is potable (drinkable) and, of that amount, approximately thirty percent is available for use and most of it is located in Brazil” (Singh, 2008).
Are We Doing Enough to Prevent Oil Spills in Newfoundland? Every year in Newfoundland, thousands of marine birds flock to the nutrient rich waters on the continental shelf just about 250 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland. Currently, there are 3 oil rigs approximately 50 kilometres away from this feeding ground for thousands of birds and fish. This area is a key feeding ground for wildlife that come from both poles. This area is one of the densest concentrations of sea birds anywhere in the whole world.
The Colorado River Austin Norris The Colorado River is a primary water resource for seven states, and Mexico. It provides water for 38 million people and runs for 1,450 miles, traveling from the Rocky Mountains through parts of the southwest before heading south to Mexico where it ends in the Gulf of California. For years people have relied upon the waters of the Colorado River for agriculture and life. Increased population growth and demands in recent years have threatened the river. Unexpected draughts have reduced the volume of annual water flow and stream flow miscalculations resulted in more water being allocated for use than actually flows through the river.
I’d also been there two hours too late. The best time to be there, Rick told me, was about two hours earlier than when I had arrived. Despite these uneventful beginnings, the Olympic National Park has proved to be one of the best – and most underrated – destinations I’ve ever had the honour of fishing in. Map of the Olympic National Park Olympic National Park — An Introduction Fast Facts * 12 major watersheds and more than 4,000 miles of rivers and streams. * 600 high lakes, two large lakes and more than 70 miles of intertidal habitats along the Pacific Coast.