Indian Ocean exploration. Organic world of the Indian Ocean

Parameter name	Meaning
Article topic:	Organic world Indian Ocean
Rubric (thematic category)	Geography

Biological resources Atlantic Ocean

Organic world of the Atlantic Ocean

The exchange of matter and energy in the ocean occurs at all latitudes and throughout the entire vertical water column, but in different conditions, which determine the intensity of metabolic processes: based on geographical latitude, amount of oxygen, transparency, etc. Taking into account the dependence on geographic latitude and depth, the number of plants and animals changes. In the Atlantic Ocean at low latitudes, 1 liter of water contains more than 10 thousand microorganisms, at a depth of 1 km - 90, and at a depth of 5 km - only 15.

As in other parts of the World Ocean, the Atlantic is home to 3 groups of organisms: plankton, nekton and benthos.

Plankton is the most powerful community. Plankton densities vary in different parts of the ocean. The maximum density is between 45° and 70° of both hemispheres, the lowest is north of 70° N. w. and at low latitudes. In general, plankton has big influence on physical properties water and physical processes in the ocean: electrical discharges accumulate on the surface of planktonic organisms - negative on the living and positive on the dead; the accumulation of plankton and nekton forms sound-scattering layers, reduces water transparency, etc.

The Atlantic Ocean has fairly rich biological resources. It accounts for 40% of fish and seafood catches. These are fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.

The largest catches are in the northeastern part of the ocean, where biological productivity is very high due to the dynamics of coastal waters, abundance of food, good lighting, shallow depths and the peculiar structure of the bottom. The catch of ocean gifts here is carried out by Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Great Britain, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and the CIS countries. Maximum seafood catches were in the 80s. XX century and amounted to about 12 million tons. The species composition of the catch is as follows: mackerel, pollock, catfish, perch, herring, sprat, flounder, crab, lobster, lobster, 5 types of shrimp, squid, snails, oysters, scallops, brown and red algae.

In tropical latitudes there is also fishing, although less abundant. The main objects are tuna, some types of sharks, swordfish, lobsters, shrimp, squid, turtles, shellfish, etc.
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Ocean productivity here is low, but overall species composition catches are 7 times richer than in temperate latitudes.

Until the end of the 50s. XX century The Atlantic Ocean led the way in fish production. But many years of fishing took its toll on its resources, and the Pacific Ocean came out on top.

The location of most of the Indian Ocean in the zone from tropical to temperate latitudes creates favorable climatic and hydrological conditions for the development of a diverse organic world.

The Indian Ocean has two biogeographic regions - tropical and temperate. The tropical region is characterized by exceptional plankton richness. The bloom of the unicellular alga Trichodesmium is especially abundant, due to which the surface layer of water becomes cloudy and changes its color. Phytobenthos is represented by brown algae, sargassum, turbinaria, and caulerpa is abundant among green algae.

Of the higher plants in tropical latitudes, thickets of sea grass Posseidonia are found. A special phytocenosis is formed in coastal zones by mangroves, typical of the Indian Ocean.

Zoobenthos is characterized by a variety of mollusks, calcareous and silicon sponges, echinoderms (sea urchin, brittle star, sea cucumber), numerous crustaceans, bryozoans, etc. Zoobenthos is especially rich on the shelves of the Arabian Sea (500 g/m3). It includes many valuable commercial species (lobsters, shrimps). Clusters of crustaceans line the shores of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Among the shellfish in these areas, there are many cuttlefish and squid.

The ichthyofauna of the ocean is rich and diverse. The shelf zone is inhabited by sardinella, mackerel, anchovy, mackerel, reef and rock bass. In the open waters of the ocean there is an abundance of tuna and coryphaena, which are of great commercial importance

In tropical waters there are many sharks, giant sea turtles, sea snakes and flying fish, and swordfish are also found. The tropical zone of the Indian Ocean is one of the areas of classical development of coral polyps and reef structures.

The temperate region is characterized by red and brown algae, mainly from the Fucus and Laminaria groups.

Cetaceans are widely represented in temperate waters: toothless and blue whales, as well as seals, elephant seals, and dugong. The richness of cetaceans in these latitudes is explained by intense vertical mixing of waters, which creates extremely favorable conditions for the development of planktonic organisms, which are the main food product of blue and toothless whales. Notothenia and white-blooded fish live in these same waters, forming large commercial aggregations.

The waters of the Indian Ocean are home to many organisms that glow at night: ctenophores, some types of jellyfish, and peridines. Brightly colored siphonophores have become widely developed, incl. poisonous physalia. There are also many foraminifera; in the waters of the Red Sea there is an abundance of pteropods. As in other oceans, organic life in the Indian Ocean is extremely unevenly distributed. First of all, it is necessary to note the high productivity of coastal waters, primarily in the Red and Arabian Seas, the Persian, Aden and Bengal Bays, where primary production is 250-500 mg/m2. The tropical “ocean desert” stands out sharply in the Southern Hemisphere and the central regions of the Arabian and Bengal Bays, characterized by primary production of 35-100 mg/m2. As in the Pacific Ocean, the value of primary production increases sharply in water areas adjacent to oceanic islands. Its values are especially high on coral reefs.

Biological resources of the Indian Ocean

Apparently, they are not inferior to the resources of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, but are currently used extremely poorly.

Thus, the Indian Ocean accounts for only 4-5% of the world's fish catch. This is approximately 3 million tons per year, with India alone providing more than 1.5 million tons. In the open waters of the tropical zone, there is one type of industrial fishing - tuna fishing. Along the way, the fishing objects are swordfish, marlin, sailfish, and some sharks. In coastal areas, sardinella, mackerel, anchovies, horse mackerel, perch, mullet, bombi, eels, stingrays, etc. are of commercial importance.
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Among invertebrates, many lobsters, shrimps, various mollusks, etc. are obtained.
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The development of shelf resources in the southern part of the ocean began relatively recently. The main fisheries here are nototheniids and krill. Whaling, which until recently played a significant role in the southern Indian Ocean, has now declined significantly due to a sharp decrease in the number of whales, some species of which have been almost completely exterminated. Only sperm whales and sei whales have retained numbers sufficient for fishing.

Overall, the potential for a significant increase in the use of biological resources in the Indian Ocean appears very real, and such increases are projected for the near future.

Organic world of the Indian Ocean - concept and types. Classification and features of the category "Organic World of the Indian Ocean" 2017, 2018.

The richest source of life diversity is the ocean. Any of the five oceans existing on our planet is a real storehouse of the organic world. Moreover, if all land animals are known to science, some inhabitants of the depths remain still undiscovered, skillfully hiding in the depths of the ocean.

This only spurs the interest of zoologists, oceanographers and other scientists. The study of the ocean, from its physical characteristics to the diversity of life in it, is at the forefront today. Let's consider the organic world of the Indian Ocean as one of the richest in living systems.

Characteristics of the Indian Ocean

Among other oceans, the Indian Ocean ranks third in terms of water area (after the Atlantic and Pacific). The properties of the Indian Ocean can be characterized by several main points:

The ocean area is about 77 million km 2.
The organic world of the Indian Ocean is very diverse.
The volume of water is 283.5 million m3.
The width of the ocean is approximately 10 thousand km 2.
It washes Eurasia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica in all directions.
Bays (straits) and seas occupy 15% of the entire ocean area.
The largest island is Madagascar.
The greatest depth is near the island of Java in Indonesia - more than 7 km.
The average general water temperature is 15-18 0 C. In each individual place of the ocean (near the borders with islands, in the seas and bays) the temperature can vary noticeably.

Indian Ocean exploration

This water body has been known since ancient times. He was an important link in the trade of spices, fabrics, furs and other goods between the peoples of Persia, Egypt and Africa.

However, exploration of the Indian Ocean began much later, during the time of the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama (mid-15th century). It is he who is credited with the discovery of India, after which the entire ocean was named.

Before Vasco da Gama, it had many different names among the peoples of the world: Eritrean Sea, Black Sea, Indicon Pelagos, Bar el-Hind. However, back in the 1st century, Pliny the Elder called it Oceanus Indicus, which Latin language translated as "Indian Ocean".

More modern and scientific approach The study of the structure of the bottom, the composition of waters, and inhabitants of animal and plant origin began only in the 19th century. Today animal world The Indian Ocean is of great practical and scientific interest, as is the ocean itself. Russian scientists, America, Germany and other countries are actively working on this issue, using the most advanced technology (underwater devices, space satellites).

Picture of the organic world

The organic world of the Indian Ocean is quite diverse. Among the representatives of flora and fauna there are species that are very specific and rare.

In terms of its diversity, the ocean biomass resembles that in the Pacific Ocean (more precisely, in its western part). This is due to the common underwater currents between these oceans.

In general, the entire organic world of the local waters can be combined into two groups according to habitat:

Tropical Indian Ocean.
Antarctic part.

Each of them has its own characteristics climatic conditions, currents, abiotic factors. Therefore, organic diversity also differs in composition.

Diversity of life in the ocean

The tropical region of this water body is replete with a variety of planktonic and benthic species of animals and plants. Algae such as unicellular Trichodesmium are considered common. Their concentration in upper layers the ocean is so high that the overall color of the water changes.

Also in this area, the organic world of the Indian Ocean is represented by the following types of algae:

sargassum seaweed;
turbinarium;
caulerpas;
phytotamnia;
Halimeda;
mangroves.

Of the small animals, the most widespread are the beautiful representatives of plankton that glow at night: physalia, siphonophores, ctenophores, tunicates, perideneans, and jellyfish.

Unusual fish

Often the animals of the Indian Ocean are rare or simply unusual in nature. appearance. Thus, among the most common and numerous fish there are sharks, rays, mackerel, coryphens, tuna, and notothenia.

If we talk about unusual representatives of the ichthyofauna, we should note such as:

coral fish;
parrot fish;
White shark;
whale shark.

Among the commercially important fish are tuna, mackerel, coryphaenium and notothenia.

Variety of animals

The fauna of the Indian Ocean has representatives of the following types, classes, families:

Fish.
Reptiles (sea snakes and giant turtles).
Mammals (sperm whales, seals, sei whales, elephant seals, dolphins, toothless whales).
Molluscs (giant octopus, octopus, snails).
Sponges (lime and silicon forms);
Echinoderms (sea beauty, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, brittle stars).
Crustaceans (crayfish, crabs, lobsters).
Hydroid (polyps).
Bryozoans.
Coral polyps (form coastal reefs).

Animals such as sea beauties have very bright colors, live at the very bottom and have a hexagonal shape with radial symmetry of the body. Thanks to them, the ocean floor looks bright and picturesque.

The giant octopus is a large octopus, the length of whose tentacles extends to 1.2 m. The body, as a rule, is no more than 30 cm in length.

Calcareous and siliceous sponges play a large role in shaping the floor of the Indian Ocean. Along with benthic species of algae, they form entire deposits of calcareous and silicon deposits.

The most dangerous predator of these habitats is the white shark, whose size reaches 3 meters. A ruthless and very agile killer, she is practically main thunderstorm Indian Ocean.

Very beautiful and interesting fish of the Indian Ocean are coral fish. They are intricately and brightly colored and have a flat, elongated body shape. These fish are very clever at hiding in thickets of coral polyps, where no predator can reach them.

The overall conditions of the Indian Ocean allow its fauna to be so diverse and interesting that it attracts those who want to study it.

Vegetable world

Contour map Indian Ocean gives general idea about what it borders on. And based on this, it is easy to imagine what the plant community of the ocean will be like.

The proximity to the Pacific Ocean contributes to the wide distribution of brown and red algae, many species of which are of commercial importance. Green algae are also present in all parts of the Indian Ocean.

The thickets of giant macrocystis are considered interesting and unusual. It is believed that getting into such thickets on a ship is tantamount to death, because it is very easy to get entangled in them and it is completely impossible to get out.

The main part flora The ocean consists of single-celled benthic and planktonic algae.

Commercial importance of the Indian Ocean

Fishing for animals and plants in the Indian Ocean is not as fully developed as in other deep oceans and seas. Today, this ocean is the world's source of reserve, a reserve of valuable food sources. An outline map of the Indian Ocean can show the main islands and peninsulas where fishing is most developed and valuable species of fish and algae are harvested:

Sri Lanka;
Hindustan;
Somalia;
Madagascar;
Maldives;
Seychelles;
Arabian Peninsula.

At the same time, the animals of the Indian Ocean for the most part are very valuable species in nutritional terms. However, this water body is not very popular in this sense. Its main meaning for people today is access to different countries world, islands and peninsulas.

Biological resources of the Atlantic Ocean

Organic world of the Atlantic Ocean

The exchange of matter and energy in the ocean occurs at all latitudes and throughout the entire vertical water column, but under different conditions that determine the intensity of the exchange processes: depending on the geographic latitude, amount of oxygen, transparency, etc. Depending on the geographic latitude and depth, the number of plants and animals changes. In the Atlantic Ocean at low latitudes, 1 liter of water contains more than 10 thousand microorganisms, at a depth of 1 km - 90, and at a depth of 5 km - only 15.

As in other parts of the World Ocean, the Atlantic is home to 3 groups of organisms: plankton, nekton and benthos.

Plankton is the most powerful community. Plankton densities vary in different parts of the ocean. The maximum density is between 45° and 70° of both hemispheres, the lowest is north of 70° N. w. and at low latitudes. In general, plankton has a great influence on the physical properties of water and physical processes in the ocean: electrical discharges accumulate on the surface of planktonic organisms - negative for living ones and positive for dead ones; the accumulation of plankton and nekton forms sound-scattering layers, reduces water transparency, etc.

The Atlantic Ocean has fairly rich biological resources. It accounts for 40% of fish and seafood catches. These are fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc.

In tropical latitudes there is also fishing, although less abundant. The main objects are tuna, some types of sharks, swordfish, lobsters, shrimp, squid, turtles, shellfish, etc. The productivity of the ocean here is low, but in general, in terms of species composition, the catches are 7 times richer than in temperate latitudes.

Until the end of the 50s. XX century The Atlantic Ocean led the way in fish production. But many years of fishing took its toll on its resources, and the Pacific Ocean came out on top.

The location of most of the Indian Ocean in the zone from tropical to temperate latitudes creates favorable climatic and hydrological conditions for the development of a diverse organic world.

The Indian Ocean has two biogeographic regions - tropical and temperate. The tropical region is characterized by exceptional plankton richness. The bloom of the unicellular alga Trichodesmium is especially abundant, as a result of which the surface layer of water becomes cloudy and changes color. Phytobenthos is represented by brown algae, sargassum, turbinaria; green algae include abundant caulerpa.

Of the higher plants in tropical latitudes, thickets of sea grass Poseidonia are found. A special phytocenosis is formed in coastal zones by mangroves, typical of the Indian Ocean.

The temperate region is characterized by red and brown algae, mainly from the Fucus and Laminaria groups.

The waters of the Indian Ocean are home to many organisms that glow at night: ctenophores, some species of jellyfish, and peridinea. Brightly colored siphonophores, including poisonous physalia, have become widespread. There are also many foraminifera; in the waters of the Red Sea there is an abundance of pteropods. As in other oceans, organic life in the Indian Ocean is extremely unevenly distributed. First of all, it should be noted the high productivity of coastal waters, primarily in the Red and Arabian Seas, the Persian, Aden and Bengal Bays, where primary production is 250-500 mg/m2. The tropical “oceanic desert” stands out sharply in the Southern Hemisphere and the central regions of the Arabian and Bengal Bays, characterized by primary production of 35-100 mg/m2. As in the Pacific Ocean, the value of primary production increases sharply in water areas adjacent to oceanic islands. Its values are especially high on coral reefs.

Biological resources of the Indian Ocean

Apparently, they are not inferior to the resources of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, but are currently used extremely poorly.

Thus, the Indian Ocean accounts for only 4-5% of the world's fish catch. This is approximately 3 million tons per year, with India alone providing more than 1.5 million tons. In the open waters of the tropical zone, there is one type of industrial fishing - tuna fishing. Along the way, the fishing objects are swordfish, marlin, sailfish, and some sharks. In coastal areas, sardinella, mackerel, anchovies, horse mackerel, perch, mullet, bombi, eels, stingrays, etc. are of commercial importance. Many invertebrates are obtained from lobsters, shrimp, various shellfish, etc. The development of shelf resources in the southern part of the ocean began relatively recently. The main fisheries here are nototheniids and krill. Whaling, which until recently played a significant role in the southern Indian Ocean, has now declined significantly due to a sharp decrease in the number of whales, some species of which have been almost completely exterminated. Only sperm whales and sei whales have retained numbers sufficient for fishing.

Overall, the potential for a significant increase in the use of biological resources in the Indian Ocean appears very real, and such increases are projected for the near future.

The flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean, which runs through the tropical and southern zones, is diverse. This formidable and colorful world has long attracted the attention of both travelers and experienced researchers.

This amazing region features four climatic zones. The first is characterized by a monsoon climate and cyclones localized along the coasts. In the second zone, from early June to mid-September, southeast winds frolic, the third zone is located in cozy subtropical latitudes, and between Antarctica and forty-fifth degree south latitude there is a fourth zone with a fairly harsh climate and strong winds. There are two biogeographic regions here - temperate and tropical. And today we will get acquainted with the inhabitants of the Indian Ocean, with the unique living organisms that inhabit these tropical waters.

Soft corals

Inhabitants of the Indian Ocean: flora and fauna

The tropical Indian Ocean is a paradise for plankton. Here they “live”:

trichodesmium (single-cell algae);
posidonia (sea grass belonging to higher plants).

Sea grass Posidonia

In coastal areas, a luxurious phytocenosis is formed thanks to the mango thickets typical of these places.

The fauna of the Indian Ocean is amazingly rich. Here you can find a huge variety:

fancy shellfish;
crustaceans;
lime sponges;
silicon sponges.

Sponges

The fauna of the Indian Ocean is represented by a considerable number of commercial species, which are worth their weight in gold all over the world. These include nutritious lobsters and frequent “guests” of shrimp feasts. Crustaceans mainly live in the region of Australia, Asia and Africa. If we talk about shellfish, here you can find such colorful characters as cuttlefish and mysterious squid.

Cuttlefish (lat. Sepiida)

Among the inhabitants of the shelf zone you can find such fish as:

mackerel;
sardinella;
horse mackerel;
rock bass;
reef snapper;
anchovy.

Coral garrupa (Cephalopholis miniata)

Tropical waters attract the attention of both professional researchers, spearfishing fans and adventurers for a reason. It is here that you can meet scary sea snakes, bizarre sea fish that look like they came out of ancient engravings, as well as sea turtles.

The mysterious swordfish, famous for its unpredictability and excellent predatory instincts, also lives here. The architecture of this fabulous corner consists of luxurious, antique-like reef structures and no less beautiful coral polyps.

Shark hunts seal

Inhabitants of the temperate zone of the Indian Ocean

The flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean in the temperate zone is represented by great amount marine plants and animals that are of keen interest to both eminent scientists and those interested in nature. For the most part, brown and red algae from the Laminaria and Fucus groups grow here.

Among the inhabitants of the Indian Ocean you can find genuine titans of the aquatic world, such as:

blue whale;
toothless whale;
dugong;
sea Elephant;
seal.

Dugong (lat. Dugong dugon)

The Indian Ocean is very rich in various representatives of cetaceans. This diversity is associated with one simple reason: the vertical mixing of water masses occurs so violently that a real paradise for plankton is created, which is the main food product for the toothless and mighty blue whales.

Blue whale (lat. Balaenoptera musculus)

These waters have become a haven for such unique organisms as:

peridinea;
ctenophores

Giant jellyfish "Black sea nettle" -. Сhrysaora fuscescens

Ominous physalia also live here; their venom, according to some sources, is similar to that of a cobra. If an unlucky underwater hunter were to encounter these unique creatures, appearance which it reminds alien ship, as a fatal outcome is not excluded.

Speaking about the flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean, it should be noted that organic existence here is distributed very unevenly. If the productivity of the coastal waters of the Arabian and Red Seas is quite high, then in the southern hemisphere there is a phenomenon called by scientists “ocean desert”.

Sea turtle accompanied by surgeon fish

Mysterious Indian Ocean

In addition to sharks, it is home to poisonous moray eels, whose bite is not much different in strength from the bite of a trained bulldog, sharp-toothed barracudas, jellyfish, and killer whales, known as “killer whales” thanks to American cinema.

The underwater world of the Indian Ocean is so diverse and interesting that it never ceases to amaze and present surprises. The inhabitants of the Indian Ocean are able to capture the imagination of even the most sophisticated researchers, with rare, unstudied and even truly creepy specimens. And if you are interested in the underwater world, then this world will definitely not disappoint you if you go to conquer the uncharted depths of these mysterious places.

Manta, or giant sea devil (lat. Manta birostris)

In this article we have touched a little on the incomprehensible beauty and diversity of the flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean, but it is better, as they say, to see once than to hear 100 times, and in our case, to read.

And these articles will introduce you in more detail to the amazing inhabitants of this ocean:

Study coastline ocean. Robert Edwin Peary on the USS Roosevelt. What makes the organic world of the ocean unique? I don't know. Fridtjof Nansen on his way to North Pole. My knowledge about the ocean. Conclusion about the reasons for the formation of the ocean. History of the study. Continue the sentences. Organic world. Polar bear. Economic use. Sailing of the Russian-Swedish expedition under the leadership of A. Nordenskiöld.

“Waters of the Atlantic Ocean” - Geographical tasks. Hypothesis. Economic use. Interaction between the ocean, atmosphere and land. The structure of the oceanic basin. There are almost no deep-sea trenches in the Atlantic Ocean. Interesting Facts. Ridge length. Atlantic Ocean. Surface temperature distribution. North Atlantic. Geographical position. Dimensions of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Between which continents is the Atlantic Ocean located?

“Northern Ocean” - on February 13, 1934, the ship was crushed by ice. Hummocks. The ice layer can reach 20 m. 100 crew members, including women and children, got into trouble. Icebergs. sea ice. Types of ice. Arctic Ocean. Ridges of ice blocks. Fast ice. "Chelyuskin" in the Arctic ice. Photo of the Arctic Ocean from space. Drifting (pack). The ocean is in danger.

“Waters of the Indian Ocean” - Characteristics of waters. In summer the temperature here reaches 10-22°C, and in winter - 6-17°C. There are few islands. Large islands are located only on the border of the ocean. Among the invertebrates there are numerous pteropods, as well as jellyfish and squid. Natural resources have not been studied enough. In summer, the temperature over the ocean is 28-32°C, in winter it drops to 18-22°C. The third climate zone lies between the 30th and 45th parallel, in subtropical and temperate latitudes.

"Oceans of the Earth" - Currents in the Indian Ocean. Meaning Pacific Ocean In human life. Organic world of the Atlantic Ocean. The significance of the Arctic Ocean. Triple connection. Currents in the ocean. Organic world of the Indian Ocean. Features of the climate of the Pacific Ocean. Indian Ocean. The meaning of the Atlantic Ocean. Flora and fauna of the ocean. Features of the climate of the Arctic Ocean. Relief of the ocean floor. Organic world of the Pacific Ocean.

“Description of the Arctic Ocean” - History of ocean exploration. Information about nature. Research methods. Geographical position. Secrets of nature. Part of the ocean. Features of nature. Powerful flow warm waters. Northern Arctic Ocean. Ice removal. Ocean. Polar explorers. A large amount of material has been accumulated. Two natural zones. Aircraft. Biological riches. The first seafarers.