Marine Biodiversity and Interactions

Marine Biodiversity and Interactions

• The ocean is vast and deep, containing amazing diversity.
• Explores creatures living in coral reefs, where fish from different continents meet and mingle.
• Highlights parental care in fish and unusual symbiotic relationships.
• Emphasizes the need to protect endangered marine species.

Wallacea: A Biodiversity Hotspot

• Located between Sava and New Guinea, named after Alfred Wallace.
• Shallow Indonesian sea where marine life from the Orient and Australia converge.
• High species richness, with 24,000 fish species forming vast groups.
• Fish dominate over invertebrates.
• Nudibranchs eat sea anemones and use their toxins for defense.
• Some sea cucumbers bury themselves and feed with long tentacles.
• Fish like the Mandarinfish are brightly colored.
• The striped fish related to seahorses are also present.
• Sea snakes have potent venom that kills prey instantly.
• Eels are harmless to humans.
• Male eels can change sex to become female.
• Starfish and sea lilies add color to coral reefs.
• Cuttlefish camouflage by changing color.
• Seahorses resemble the coral they inhabit.
• Some fish resemble algae for safety.
• Cardinalfish form large schools resembling a large predator.
• Scorpionfish blend into coral reefs and mimic swaying branches.
• Gobies have eyespots on their fins resembling crab eyes.
• Lionfish use venomous spines to create a net for hunting.
• Frogfish use lures to attract prey.
• Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
• Reefs house over 200 species in various shapes and colors.
• Size varies greatly, from 12-meter sharks to 1 cm gobies.

Parental Care and Symbiosis

• Some fish offspring find food and defend themselves after birth.
• Other fish receive care from devoted parents.
• Garibaldi males mark territory on kelp to attract females.
• Males guard eggs from sea urchins until they hatch.
• Some fish form large schools for safety.
• Razorfish and butterflyfish coexist, with butterflyfish cleaning parasites off razorfish.
• Some fish form schools with different species.
• The Grouper darkens its skin to signal shrimp for cleaning.
• Shrimp eat parasites and leftover food from the Grouper's eyes and mouth.
• Clownfish live among sea anemone tentacles.
• Mucus on clownfish protects them from the stinging tentacles.
• Anemones protect clownfish from predators, clownfish care for anemones.
• Fish hide among jellyfish tentacles, eating their waste.
• Small fish follow stingrays.
• As stingrays dig for food, they stir up food for the small fish.
• Pearlfish live in sea cucumbers' anuses.
• Pearlfish can swim in and out at will and find food there.

Seasonal Changes and Reproduction

• Spring in Europe marks a period of growth for organisms.
• Pike are voracious predators that hunt using sight, smell, and detecting vibrations.
• Pike are cannibals.
• Sticklebacks gather to spawn as the weather warms.
• During mating season, male sticklebacks have red mouths and bellies.
• Males mark their territory and attack any red rivals.
• Male sticklebacks guide females into nests and stimulate egg-laying.
• Males fertilize and ensure eggs stick together.
• Males can attract up to seven females to their nests.

Seahorses and Conservation

• Sea dragons are related to seahorses.
• Visit to the National Marine Aquarium in the UK.
• Seahorses are popular ocean inhabitants.
• Seahorses form pairs, twining tails and swimming affectionately.
• Seahorses are fish and belong to the family Syngnathidae.
• Male seahorses carry eggs in a pouch.
• Seahorses are endangered due to medicinal value.
• Seahorse farming can overload marine habitats.
• Artificial breeding can solve this problem.
• Protecting seahorses is crucial.