Threats to our ocean
Do you love to swim, dive and splash? Love dolphins, whales, or sharks? Boats, jet ski's and floaties? Probably you do, but lets see why the ocean and ocean life are absolutely essential to our planet.
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Why our oceans are so important.
Actually its a lot to do with Plankton. So next time someone calls you Plankton brain, just explain that "technically that makes you the most important person in the room". Why? Because phytoplankton produces oxygen through photosynthesis in the same way that plants do, on land, making it essential to the earths ecosystem.
Also, there are millions of sea creatures living in the ocean that maintain the balance of food chains and ecosystems on earth.
And the ocean absorbs and stores heat, stabilizing the earths climate. It also absorbs and stores carbon dioxide.
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What is damaging our oceans?
Pollution is one of our biggest problems. From harmful chemicals, oil spills, agricultural runoff, industrial discharge and sewage to plastics, the ocean is being bombarded with rubbish.
These chemicals destroy marine life and fish as well as corals and plants. Animals can get entangled in plastics and dissolved micro-plastic are harmful to them when ingested.
Another big difficulty is overfishing. Too many fish of one kind are being fished out of the ocean and it disrupts the food chains. Meaning larger fish and marine mammals do not have enough to eat. Fishing also causes the problem that Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales can get caught in the fishing nets.
Noise Pollution: Human activities like shipping and underwater construction generate noise pollution, which can harm marine mammals and disrupt their communication and navigation.
Class Dismissed!
Marine Conservation
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What is being done?
There many conservation and research centers around the world dedicated to helping out oceans. They rescue animals, research marine life and try to find solutions to conservation problems.
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Governments in many countries have put regulations and policies in place to monitor and reduce pollution, reduce plastic, regulate fishing and mitigate climate change. But it's not enough!
What can I do to help?
Learning about the situation and teaching others is a very important first step.
Then there are small changes you can make in your everyday life that can help. For example:
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Reducing the plastic you buy and use.
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Making sure to eat line caught Tuna and fish rather than one caught by fishing nets so you protect dolphins and whales.
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Helping with or organizing beach clean ups.
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Volunteering at your local conservation centre.
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Buying local products to reduce transport pollution.
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If many people make a small difference it becomes a big difference.
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Class Dismissed!
Dr Pescatori's Species Quiz
At the bottom of the animal cards you will find a quiz. Each each is a different letter from one of the animal cards. The answer will build a word. Enter the letters to find the secret hiding on Ararat.
Eden Academy Swim Teams
Endagered Species
Monk Seal
Aka: Ilioholokauaua (dog running in rough seas
Forgotten Language: Neomonachus schauinslandi
Top Speed: 8 kph (5 mph)
Lifespan: 30 years
Size: 2 meters
Weight: 300 kg ( 660 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Hawaii
Skill: They can change the color of their fur to camouflage
Trait: They like to sunbathe in groups on the beach.
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Endagered Species
Great White Shark
Aka: Frigging scary fish
Forgotten Language: Carcharodon carcharias
Top Speed: 50 kph (35mph)
Lifespan: 70 years
Size: 7 meters
Weight: 1,800 kg (4,000 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Temperate and tropical coastal waters.
Skill: Most powerful bite of 1.8 metric tons, They smell blood from 5km away
Trait: Their eyes glow in the dark, Their blood is toxic, They have 300 teeth
Least Concern
Barracuda
Aka:
Forgotten Language: Sphyraena barracuda
Top Speed: 58 kph (36 mph)
Lifespan: 14 years
Size: 3 meters
Weight: 44 kg (100 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Temperate and tropical waters except the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
Skill: Torpedo shape and super fast acceleration
Trait: They are attracted to shiny things
Vulnerable Species
Giant Manta Ray
Aka: Devil Fish
Forgotten Language: Manta Birostris
Top Speed: 35 kph (22mph)
Lifespan: 40 years
Size: 8.8 meters
Weight: 2,404 kg (5,300 lbs)
Diet: Omnivore
Habitat: Warm and tropical waters
Skill: Lethal poisonous Sting
Trait: They like to do summersaults while eating, they're cleanliness obsessed
Most Dangerous
Least Concern
Box Jellyfish
Aka: Sea wasp
Forgotten Language: Cubozoa
Top Speed: 7.4 kph (4.6 mph)
Lifespan: 1 year
Size: 3 meters
Weight: 2 kg ( 4.4 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Australia, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Vietnam.
Skill: Their sting possesses one of the most deadly venoms in the world
Trait: They have 24 eyes grouped in clusters of six
Limited Data
Striped Pyjama Squid
Aka: Striped dumpling squid
Forgotten Language: Sepioloidea lineolata
Top Speed: 24 kph (15 mph)
Lifespan: 2 years
Size: 7cm
Weight: 100g
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: In shallow (less than 60 feet) waters in the Indo-Pacific region.
Skill: Master of disguise
Trait: They produce slime and change colors when threatened
Least Concern
Beaked Sea snake
Aka: Hooked nose sea snake
Forgotten Language: Enhydrina Schistosa
Top Speed: 3 kph (2.2 mph)
Lifespan: 4 years
Size: 1 meter
Weight: 0.8 kg (1.7 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, and northern and eastern Indian Ocean, and Papua New Guinea.
Skill: Deadly venomous bite
Trait: They they have a flattened, paddle-like tail for swimming
Invasive Species
Lion Fish
Aka: Turkey fish, Fire fish
Forgotten Language: Pterois
Top Speed: --
Lifespan: 15 years
Size: 30cm
Weight:1.3 kg (3 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Red Sea Persian Gulf
Skill: Venomous Dorsal fins
Trait: Extremely hungry creatures, they will eat anything
Most Endangerred
Critically Endagered
Vaquita Porpoise
Aka: Little cow
Forgotten Language: Phocoena sinus
Top Speed: 18 kph (11.5 mph)
Lifespan: 21 years
Size: 1.5 meters
Weight: 50 kg (112 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Gulf of California
Skill: Echolocation allows them to locate distant or invisible object through sound waves reflected back from their call.
Trait: Friendly but shy they are rarely seen.
Endangered
Coral Reefs
Aka: Striped dumpling squid
Forgotten Language: Sepioloidea lineolata
Top Speed: 24 kph (15 mph)
Lifespan: 2 years
Size: 7cm
Weight: 100g
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: In shallow (less than 60 feet) waters in the Indo-Pacific region.
Skill: Master of disguise
Trait: They produce slime and change colors when threatened
Endangered Species
Green Sea Turtle
Aka:
Forgotten Language: Chelonia mydas
Top Speed: 56 kph (35 mph)
Lifespan: 80 years
Size: 1 meter
Weight: 136 kg (300 lbs)
Diet: Herbivore
Habitat: Warm subtropical and tropical ocean waters
Skill: Navigation skills - Marine turtles’ amazing ability to navigate comes from their sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic fields
Trait: Their noises can sound like human birping
Endangered Species
Orca
Aka: Killer Whale
Forgotten Language: Orcinus Orca
Top Speed: 56 kph (35mph)
Lifespan: 65 years
Size: 9 meters
Weight: 6,500 kg (6 tons)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Wide spread across all oceans
Skill: Incredible hunting skills, adn high intelligence
Trait: Top predator of the ocean, they sleep with one eye open
Dr Pescatori's Choice
Least Concern
Needle Fish
Aka: Pescatori’s favorite long one
Forgotten Language: Belonidae
Top Speed: 60 kph (38 mph)
Lifespan: 8 years
Size: 80 cm
Weight: 2.3 kg (5 lbs)
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Shallow marine and freshwater
Skill: Cunning and smart hunter with skill for tricking other fish
Trait: Needle fish make friends with other fish or different species
Endangered
Bottlenose Dolphin
Aka: Common bottle nose dolphin
Forgotten Language: Tursiops truncatus
Top Speed: 60kmh (37 mph)
Lifespan: 50 years
Size: 4 meters
Weight: 544 kg (1,200 lbs )
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: In all oceans, in temperate and tropical waters around the world.
Skill: Highest jumper. They can jump up to 7 meters high. Great communication skills
Trait: They like to blow bubbles
Endangered Species
Blue Rainbow Fish
Aka: Turquoise Rainbow, Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish
Forgotten Language: Melanotaenia Lacustris
Top Speed: 3 kph (2.2 mph)
Lifespan: 7 years
Size: 12 cm
Weight: 1.8 kg (2 lbs)
Diet: Omnivore
Habitat: Papua New Guinea
Skill: Very fast acceleration, skilled jumpers
Trait: They are playful and adaptable
Least Concern
Anemone Fish
Aka: Clown Fish
Forgotten Language: Amphiprioninae
Top Speed: 3 kph (2.2 mph)
Lifespan: 7 years
Size: 5 cm
Weight: 2kg (7 lbs)
Diet: Omnivore
Habitat: Shallow reefs in both the Pacific and Indian Ocean
Skill: Poison resistance - one of the only marine creatures that can withstand the toxins of the anemones in which they live
Trait: They can change their gender