Why are coastal areas more productive than the open ocean?
The proximity to land and its nutrient sources, the interception of sinking organic matter by the shallow seafloor, and the propensity for coastal upwelling all result in highly productive ecosystems.
What limits productivity in the ocean?
In the vast unproductive low- and mid-latitude ocean, warm and sunlit surface water is separated from cold, nutrient-rich interior water by a strong density difference that restricts mixing of water and thereby reduces nutrient supply, which becomes the limiting factor for productivity.
What affects productivity in the ocean?
Ocean Productivity. Abiotic factors like solar radiation and nutrients, and biotic factors like zooplankton predation may affect ocean primary productivity. Productivity varies with the season, and also locally and globally.
Where is productivity highest in the ocean?
Although they occupy less than two percent of the oceans, the coastal upwelling areas in the eastern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean are among the biologically most productive marine areas worldwide. They not only support a large biodiversity, but also provide 20 percent of the world's fish harvest.
Why is the open ocean so low in productivity?
In surface waters away from coastlines, generally there is plenty of sun but not enough nutrients. So most of the ocean surface is not very productive. The water is too deep for storms to stir up nutrients from the bottom and there isn't upwelling.
What is the reason for low productivity of ocean?
Solution : In aquatic ecosystem primary productivity is limited by light and nutrient. It is because of these limitations, the total productivity of oceans is less that 50`%` of terrestrial productivity.
Why does the open ocean have low productivity?
In surface waters away from coastlines, generally there is plenty of sun but not enough nutrients. So most of the ocean surface is not very productive. The water is too deep for storms to stir up nutrients from the bottom and there isn't upwelling.
Why does the ocean have low productivity?
Sunlight is the major limiting factor in the oceans. As the depth of the ocean increases, the intensity of light decreases, thus decreasing the photosynthetic rate. This decrease in rate of photosynthesis will eventually decline the development of plants and animals thriving in the aquatic environment.
Why there is low productivity in ocean?
Sunlight is the major limiting factor in the oceans. As the depth of the ocean increases, the intensity of light decreases, thus decreasing the photosynthetic rate. This decrease in rate of photosynthesis will eventually decline the development of plants and animals thriving in the aquatic environment.
Why productivity of ocean is less than productivity on land?
Decrease in rate of photosynthesis decreases the growth of aquatic plants and animals. Minerals and nutrients can also be a retarding factor based on location of the oceans.So, there will be less productivity than land which is 170 billion tons compared to 55 billion tons ion oceans.
Why do open oceans have such low net primary productivity NPP )?
Open ocean is low in productivity? The average NPP of the ocean is so low because the ocean's volume (mostly open space) in comparison to the amount of producers is massive.
Why does upwelling increase biological productivity?
Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity.
Why does coastal upwelling lead to high biological productivity quizlet?
Why does coastal upwelling lead to high biological productivity? It provides a current for fish to move up in the water column to devour the phytoplankton on the surface. It brings warm, nutrient-rich water to the surface, where phytoplankton reside.
Why does the open sea have low NPP?
Low net primary productivity: Net primary productivity is low in the open sea except in upwelling area because nutrients and dissolved oxygen tend to be low. However, the open sea covers so much of the earth's surface, it makes the largest contribution to the earth's overall NPP.
What is the main reason behind low productivity of ocean?
Solution : In aquatic ecosystem primary productivity is limited by light and nutrient. It is because of these limitations, the total productivity of oceans is less that 50`%` of terrestrial productivity.
Why is open ocean so low in productivity?
In surface waters away from coastlines, generally there is plenty of sun but not enough nutrients. So most of the ocean surface is not very productive. The water is too deep for storms to stir up nutrients from the bottom and there isn't upwelling.
Why does the ocean have less productivity?
Sunlight is the major limiting factor in the oceans. As the depth of the ocean increases, the intensity of light decreases, thus decreasing the photosynthetic rate. This decrease in rate of photosynthesis will eventually decline the development of plants and animals thriving in the aquatic environment.
Why does upwelling cause high biological productivity?
Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity.
Why does coastal upwelling lead to high biological productivity view available hint S?
Why does coastal upwelling lead to high biological productivity? It provides a current for fish to move up in the water column to devour the phytoplankton on the surface. It brings warm, nutrient-rich water to the surface, where phytoplankton reside.
What is the difference between the coastal zone and the open sea?
Even though the coast is just a small sliver of the ocean, it is the more productive of the two marine biomes. This means the coasts hold more marine biodiversity, which provides food for many animals, including humans. The open ocean stretches from the edges of the coast between the continents for hundreds of miles.
Why are continental margins more biologically productive than the open ocean?
Why are continental margins more biologically productive than the open ocean? There are more available nutrients along the continental margins. In temperate oceans of the northern hemisphere during the winter months: Nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is low, and water temperatures decrease.
Why oceans are not productive?
In deep water there are lots of nutrients but no sunlight. This is why it's reasonable to measure productivity just by looking at surface water. In surface waters away from coastlines, generally there is plenty of sun but not enough nutrients. So most of the ocean surface is not very productive.
Why do regions of upwelling have high productivity?
Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity.
Why are coastal zones productive quizlet?
They are some of the earth's most productive ecosystems because of high nutrient inputs from rivers and from adjoining land, rapid circulation of nutrients by tidal flows, and ample sunlight penetrating the shallow waters.
Why does the open sea have a low net primary productivity?
Low net primary productivity: Net primary productivity is low in the open sea except in upwelling area because nutrients and dissolved oxygen tend to be low. However, the open sea covers so much of the earth's surface, it makes the largest contribution to the earth's overall NPP.
Why do open oceans have low net primary productivity?
In open ocean, any dead material sinks to the ocean depths. The warmer, well lit surface layers, therefore, hold little nutrient.
What causes open ocean upwelling?
Upwelling is a process in which currents bring deep, cold water to the surface of the ocean. Upwelling is a result of winds and the rotation of the Earth. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. Because of this rotation, winds tend to veer right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere.
What is the difference between the coastal zone and open sea?
Even though the coast is just a small sliver of the ocean, it is the more productive of the two marine biomes. This means the coasts hold more marine biodiversity, which provides food for many animals, including humans. The open ocean stretches from the edges of the coast between the continents for hundreds of miles.
Which of the following zones is the most productive and supports more species than any other zone?
Littoral zone is open, sunlit surface water away from shore and is the most productive area for food and oxygen production. b. The limnetic zone is the open sunlit surface away from the shore that extends to the depth that sunlight reaches.
Why is productivity low in tropical regions quizlet?
Biological productivity is low in tropical regions because the strong thermocline prevents the mixing of waters and movement of nutrients. Polar regions have low biological production because of the lack of sunlight.