The Balance of Marine Life

Bioluminescent dinoflagellates during red tide.

Photo by catalano82

Like any ecosystem, the biodiversity of the oceans depend on the subtle rhythms they have adopted since the earth’s conception. Feeding or disturbing the underwater environment in any way upsets this delicate balance.

Red tide or Algal bloom (Pytoplankton) is a good example of evidence of human disturbance of ecosystems. The phenomenon of Red tide has been proven on certain occasions to be attributed to chemicals released into the ocean. The release of excess nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen into waters result in rapid blooming of these organisms. This results in the death of other organisms and the decomposing matter are fed on by the bacteria that decompose it. They in turn flourish in number, and require vast amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water.

These tides are thus frequently accompanied by crayfish or other marine animals washing up on shore due to the fact that the oxygen levels in the area of the ocean they inhabit has been compromised and they cannot survive on what remains.

And of course the damage to any of these animals have their own ramifications on other marine creatures. If a certain area of water is the general feeding spot for a group of sharks for example, and their prey is not present they will need to seek alternative feeding spots, which can lead to sharks coming closer to the shores.

Whereas bees pollinate blossoms and seeds, fertilization underwater occurs largely by larvae being release and floating to their new habitats. A vast amount of the aquatic kingdom facilitates the process of fertilization outside of the organisms body in a similar manner.

The more you dive, the more familiar you will become with certain underwater inhabitants habits. You will begin to see patterns, know where to look for certain creatures and expect to find others in familiar places.

Much of the underwater world is not understood by most people, partially because as opposed to on land where we face the wonders of nature every day, the process of breeding, feeding etc is hidden to most people's view and they do not experience the workings of the underwater world in regards to the nature of marine creatures lives. Another reason is because there is just so much that we have not yet explored thoroughly enough underwater and there are still many mysteries to the deep.

Weightlessness may be the order of the day underwater but for the sake of order, the laws of gravity still apply to the aquatic kingdom as on land in comparison to space, where there is no ‘right-side up’.