Interdependence:
Blue-spotted ribbontail stingrays fit into a population of its species by travelling in groups to hunt and feed on small crustaceans and such during low tide. It fits into the community by interacting with other species. For example, they have a mutualistic relationship with cleaner fish. The cleaner fish clean off the stingray’s dorsal side so that their blue spots will show better and their predators leave them alone, as shown in the picture below. In return, the cleaner fish are safe from their predators because the blue spots ward off any enemies. Also, the cleaner fish get food and nutrients by cleaning off the stingrays. In its ecosystem, the rays are secondary consumers, as they eat small crustaceans. Also, their predators are hammerhead sharks and humans. Some people like to eat these rays as it is said that their meat is delicious. Stingrays live in the marine biome, and if you want to get nitty-gritty, the coral reef marine biome.
Blue-spotted ribbontail stingrays fit into a population of its species by travelling in groups to hunt and feed on small crustaceans and such during low tide. It fits into the community by interacting with other species. For example, they have a mutualistic relationship with cleaner fish. The cleaner fish clean off the stingray’s dorsal side so that their blue spots will show better and their predators leave them alone, as shown in the picture below. In return, the cleaner fish are safe from their predators because the blue spots ward off any enemies. Also, the cleaner fish get food and nutrients by cleaning off the stingrays. In its ecosystem, the rays are secondary consumers, as they eat small crustaceans. Also, their predators are hammerhead sharks and humans. Some people like to eat these rays as it is said that their meat is delicious. Stingrays live in the marine biome, and if you want to get nitty-gritty, the coral reef marine biome.
Flow of Energy:
The sun helps the plants in the oceans to photosynthesize, and algae in the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen for the world ("Science for Kids: Marine or Ocean Biome"). Not only is the recycling of these major nutients important for stingrays, it's also important for humans too. These kelp and phytoplankton are food for smaller organisms like fish and some crustaceans. Secondary consumers will eat those, like the stingrays, octupi, and squid. The top organisms in the food chain that eat the secondary consumers are sharks, some birds, and even humans, as shown in the diagrams below. Nitrogen is important because "organisms require [it] to form essential compounds such as amino acids, proteins, DNA, RNA, and chlorophyll" ("Nutrient Cycling"). Some bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonium which helps support other organisms' growth. Hydrogen has to be pretty important because the marine biome is made of salt water. Water = H20. Hydrogen. Without hydrogen, there would be no water. In conclusion, hydrogen is very important (muy importante). Phosphates and nitrogen are both important for limiting the growth of bacterias that are the food for other smaller organisms like fish, which then the stingrays eat. If the bacteria grew too large for the fish to eat, nothing would be able to survive because the food sources would die off (Woodward).
The sun helps the plants in the oceans to photosynthesize, and algae in the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen for the world ("Science for Kids: Marine or Ocean Biome"). Not only is the recycling of these major nutients important for stingrays, it's also important for humans too. These kelp and phytoplankton are food for smaller organisms like fish and some crustaceans. Secondary consumers will eat those, like the stingrays, octupi, and squid. The top organisms in the food chain that eat the secondary consumers are sharks, some birds, and even humans, as shown in the diagrams below. Nitrogen is important because "organisms require [it] to form essential compounds such as amino acids, proteins, DNA, RNA, and chlorophyll" ("Nutrient Cycling"). Some bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonium which helps support other organisms' growth. Hydrogen has to be pretty important because the marine biome is made of salt water. Water = H20. Hydrogen. Without hydrogen, there would be no water. In conclusion, hydrogen is very important (muy importante). Phosphates and nitrogen are both important for limiting the growth of bacterias that are the food for other smaller organisms like fish, which then the stingrays eat. If the bacteria grew too large for the fish to eat, nothing would be able to survive because the food sources would die off (Woodward).
Succession:
"Succession is the sequence of biotic changes that regenerate a damaged community or create a community in a previously uninhabited area" (Nowicki 445). The primary succession for the coral reef biome, where the blue-spotted ribbontail ray is located, was volcanic eruptions which create a sterile environment and allow for new growth to occur. In the pictures below, you can see how a coral reef erupts from virtually nothing. Over time, it grows and new species can be seen living there.
The secondary succession doesn't occur from bare rock. Usually a natural disaster causes some damage and then the ecosystem must repair itself; it must recover from its losses. For example, in the chart below, you can see a drastic drop in the species diversity after a hurricane, a natural disaster.
Without the primary succession, the blue-spotted ribbontail ray couldn't even live in its habitat because that's how the coral reef was made. Without the secondary succession, the blue-spotted ribbontail ray wouldn't have been able to outcompete other species for food resources. Sure, the hurricanes might kill off some of the rays but it also killed off some of its competitors.
"Succession is the sequence of biotic changes that regenerate a damaged community or create a community in a previously uninhabited area" (Nowicki 445). The primary succession for the coral reef biome, where the blue-spotted ribbontail ray is located, was volcanic eruptions which create a sterile environment and allow for new growth to occur. In the pictures below, you can see how a coral reef erupts from virtually nothing. Over time, it grows and new species can be seen living there.
The secondary succession doesn't occur from bare rock. Usually a natural disaster causes some damage and then the ecosystem must repair itself; it must recover from its losses. For example, in the chart below, you can see a drastic drop in the species diversity after a hurricane, a natural disaster.
Without the primary succession, the blue-spotted ribbontail ray couldn't even live in its habitat because that's how the coral reef was made. Without the secondary succession, the blue-spotted ribbontail ray wouldn't have been able to outcompete other species for food resources. Sure, the hurricanes might kill off some of the rays but it also killed off some of its competitors.
Human Impact:
Humans have created a problem with pollution in the coral reef habitat. The pollution comes from erosion when pesticides and herbicides wash down into the ocean and it affects the ecosystem. This creates an abundance of nutrients for algae and the algae grows in overabundance which allows for the fish and secondary consumers' populations to grow. In turn, the ray's population can grow too, so this is a good thing for the rays (Habitats: Coral Reefs - Humans & the Environment).
Another example of pollution that hinders the environment is oil spills. This creates a problem for every kind of organism that lives there. Oil kills off the plants, which in turn kills off the animals and makes it almost impossible for stingrays to find any food much less be able to survive their already filthy environment.
Plant Adaptations:
"In order for coral reef plants to photosynthesize properly, they have larger cells than other land and marine animals" ("Adaptations").
"Sea weeds and grasses have adapted to living in rocky crevices and open spaces left by coral. They provide transferable food and oxygen to the coral reefs. After the sea weeds die, though, they help form the base for further plant growth...
"Mangroves have adapted by growing behind the beds of seagrass and coral reefs. Mangroves line shores and grow above sea water while their roots trap and prevent heavier sediments from overpowering the seagrass and coral reefs. Mangroves also provide a nourishing habitat for marine life." This is an example of gravitropism.
Humans have created a problem with pollution in the coral reef habitat. The pollution comes from erosion when pesticides and herbicides wash down into the ocean and it affects the ecosystem. This creates an abundance of nutrients for algae and the algae grows in overabundance which allows for the fish and secondary consumers' populations to grow. In turn, the ray's population can grow too, so this is a good thing for the rays (Habitats: Coral Reefs - Humans & the Environment).
Another example of pollution that hinders the environment is oil spills. This creates a problem for every kind of organism that lives there. Oil kills off the plants, which in turn kills off the animals and makes it almost impossible for stingrays to find any food much less be able to survive their already filthy environment.
Plant Adaptations:
"In order for coral reef plants to photosynthesize properly, they have larger cells than other land and marine animals" ("Adaptations").
"Sea weeds and grasses have adapted to living in rocky crevices and open spaces left by coral. They provide transferable food and oxygen to the coral reefs. After the sea weeds die, though, they help form the base for further plant growth...
"Mangroves have adapted by growing behind the beds of seagrass and coral reefs. Mangroves line shores and grow above sea water while their roots trap and prevent heavier sediments from overpowering the seagrass and coral reefs. Mangroves also provide a nourishing habitat for marine life." This is an example of gravitropism.
Animal's Physical and Behavioral Adaptations:
They have venomous spines on their tails to fend off predators. (Physical)
They also have two plates inside their mouths that are adapted to crushing the shells of mollusks so they can eat. (Physical)
They bury themselves in sand to either hide to avoid from being seen by predators (this helps them not die) or to conceal themselves so they can hunt their prey and they also hide in caves from predators too. (Behavioural adaptation)
Blue spots are warning to other organisms that they are poisonous so that can be considered a physical adaptation to avoid predators.
They have venomous spines on their tails to fend off predators. (Physical)
They also have two plates inside their mouths that are adapted to crushing the shells of mollusks so they can eat. (Physical)
They bury themselves in sand to either hide to avoid from being seen by predators (this helps them not die) or to conceal themselves so they can hunt their prey and they also hide in caves from predators too. (Behavioural adaptation)
Blue spots are warning to other organisms that they are poisonous so that can be considered a physical adaptation to avoid predators.