The Gulf of Mexico Biome

The End

The Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is a warm sea that is rich in flora and fauna. Warm water rising from the equator and nutrient rich water from the poles make it a warm and rich sea that is able to support its multitudes of life. It has seasonal hurricanes and tropical storms which helps to stir up nutriens from the depths. It also is a commonly used migratory route for sea mammals, birds, and fish. There is a theory that the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs helped form the Gulf of Mexico.

Human Impact on the Gulf of Mexico Over Time.

There are many ways that humans have left their mark on The Gulf of Mexico. The most prominent is the ecosystem disaster known as the deep water horizon oil spill. This oil spill was the biggest in history and had a substantial impact on the health of plants and animals. Other disasters include: the decimation of the Bayou Marshes and numerous shipping routes making their mark on the wildlife of The Gulf of Mexico. Also, debris from hurricanes are commonly disrupting wildlife in the gulf. Humans have also raised the average temperature of the ocean because of climate change.

Food Web

Toothed Whales

Baline Whales

Manatee

Tuna

Tiger Shark

Barracuda

Parrot Fish

Octopie

Mollusks

Sea Urchin

Sea Turtle

Plankton

Coral

Krill

Kelp

Algae

Seagrassess

Animal Adaptations

Plant Adaptations

1. Pelicans have evolved with a large skin covered pouch to scoop up and carry the fish they eat.

1. Sea grasses have evolved to grow in salt water with very little nourishment from the soil.

2. Most mollusks such as oysters have adapted hard shells in order to protect them from predators.

2. Mangroves have adapted to their environment, growing tall arched roots for support and getting sustenance from brine and salt water instead of fresh.

3. Octopie have developed a strong beak to crack the oysters, mussels, and other mollusks strong shells open. Also octopie and squid have developed an ink sack to squirt at predators as a diversion.

The Gulf of Mexico Biome

3. Kelp have specialized roots that anchor them to the sandy bottom and they trap air bubbles to keep themselves upright and growing toward the sun.

4. Sea Urchins have evolved long poison spines and a strong exoskeleton to protect itself from predators

5. Sea turtles have evolved to hatch in large numbers to lessen the chances of an individual being picked off. Sea turtles have adapted with a thick bony shell to protect themselves from predators.

4. Algae grow in every sea river and lake due to the adaptation of getting nutrients from the sun alone. Algae is the base life form in every sea; it is the plant from which everything lives.

By: Daniel Hatfield, Matthew Barnett, Freeman George, JP Embry

Location and geography

The Latitude and longitude

of the gulf is 25° N 90° W

It is located below the

United States, and east of

Mexico. It belongs to

the Atlantic Ocean.

The gulf is 1.6 million km squared

Climate

i mean did he tell you directly?

The Gulf of Mexico has a warm climate ranging between 60 degrees to about 90 degrees. It has high rainfall. The water temperature ranges from 70 degrees to mid 80 degrees. It is known for hurricanes during the hurricane season. The hurricanes stir up the nutrients giving it nutrient rich water.

we need more plant and animal addaptations cause we need ten total for each

Dominant Plants and Animals

Marine Animals

Marine Plants

There are 29 species of marine mammals including porpoises, cetaceans and sirenians. Cetacean species include minke, blue, sperm whale, orcas, and a number of dolphin species, including bottlenose dolphins. The Gulf of Mexico supports a variety of invertebrate species, including oysters, crabs, and shrimp. Coral and jellyfish also live there. Five species of turtle inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. It includes many sharks, migratory fish and tropical fish.

wat do u think

The Gulf of Mexico supports an abundance of marine algae and plants. Some of the most important are species of seagrasses, which provide habitat for adult animals such as manatees and sea turtles, and nursery areas for young fish and invertebrates. Along the coast, mangrove are commonly found. These plants have adapted to their environment, growing tall arched roots for support and getting sustenance from salt water instead of fresh.

Birds

There are many birds in the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the birds that live here, just migrate there in the summer. Species include native birds such as pelicans, anhingas, frigatebirds, egrets, herons, spoonbills, ibis, and mallard ducks, and wintering species which include the large northern gannet.

Food Pyramid

Carnivores

Tiger shark, toothed whale, pelican, bottlenose dolphin, tuna, dwarf octopus, barracuda, and jellyfish.

Omnivores

Mullusks, certain types of coral, Sea urchines, sea anename, and sand dollars. Orcas sometimes eat both fish and plants.

This is an example of a human, an animal commonly found in The Gulf of Mexico.

Herbivores

Animals that eat the primary comsumers for food include: sea turtles, manatees, snails, coral, plankton, krill, fairy shrimp.

A young sea turte.

Primary producers

Mangroves, phyllospadix torreyi, ruppia maritima, zannichellia palustris, potamogeton pectinatus, algae such as kelp, and seaweed.

The food pyramid describes where the energy within an ecosystem is transfered. At the bottom, plants take energy from the sun. When anything dies on the pyramid, it gets eaten by the decomposers.

we need more plant and animal addaptations

Precipitation

Temperature

Food Chain

Plankton

Algae

Krill

Young Oyster

Barracuda

Dwarf Octopus

Young Tuna

Frigate Bird