richest diversity of life at the source - is the ocean.Any of the five existing on our planet's oceans is a veritable storehouse of the organic world.And if land animals known to science all the depths of some residents still remain undiscovered, cleverly hiding in the depths of the ocean.
It just reinforces the interest of zoologists, oceanographers and other scientists.The study of the ocean, from its physical characteristics and ending with the variety of life in him is at the forefront today.Consider the organic world of the Indian Ocean as one of the richest on living systems.
Characteristics of the Indian Ocean
Among other Indian Ocean is the third of the territory occupied by the water (after the Atlantic and Pacific).Properties of the Indian Ocean can be characterized by a few basic points:
- Ocean Territory - about 77 million. Km2.
- organic world of the Indian Ocean is very diverse.
- water volume - 283.5 million. M3.
- Width Ocean about 10 thousand. Km2.
- washed by all sides of the world Eurasia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica.
- Bays (Straits) and sea occupy 15% of the entire territory of the ocean.
- largest island - Madagascar.
- greatest depth near the island of Java in Indonesia - more than 7 km.
- total average water temperature - 15-180S.In each location the ocean (near the border with the islands in the seas and bays), the temperature can vary appreciably.
study of the Indian Ocean
known that water body has been since ancient times.It was therefore important link in the spice trade, fabrics, furs and other goods between the peoples of Persia, Egypt and Africa.
However, the study of the Indian Ocean began much later, during the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama (the middle of the XV century).It was he who is credited with the discovery of India, in whose honor and named was the entire ocean.
Before Vasco da Gama, he had many different names among the peoples of the world: Eritrean Sea, Black Sea, Indikon Pelagos Bar El Hindi.However, even in the I century Pliny the Elder called it Oceanus Indikus that from Latin translates as "Indian Ocean".
more modern and scientific approach to the study of the structure of the bottom composition of water, the inhabitants of the animal and vegetable origin was launched only with the XIX century.Today, the fauna of the Indian Ocean is of great practical and scientific interest, as well as the ocean itself.Scientists in Russia, America, Germany and other countries are actively engaged in this issue, using the most advanced technology (underwater devices, satellites).
picture of the organic world
organic world of the Indian Ocean is quite diverse.Among the flora and fauna there are species that are very specific and rare.
its diversity resembles that biomass of ocean in the Pacific (more specifically, in the western part).This is due to the general undercurrents between the two oceans.
In general, the whole organic world of local waters can be divided into two groups according to habitat:
- tropical Indian Ocean.
- of the Antarctic.
For each of them characterized by its own climate, currents, abiotic factors.Therefore, a variety of different organic composition.
The diversity of life in the ocean
tropical areas of the water body is replete with a variety of planktonic and benthic species of animals and plants.Common algae are considered as a single-celled trihodesmium.Their concentration in the upper layers of 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;
- turbinarii;
- Caulerpa;
- fitotamnii;
- halimedy;
- mangroves.
From small animals most widely beautiful glowing night representatives of plankton: Physalia, siphonophores, ctenophores, tunicates, peridenei, jellyfish.
Antarctic region of the Indian Ocean is represented fucus, laminaria, porphyria, galidiumom, huge makrotsistis.A representative of the animal kingdom (minor) live here kopipody, evfuazidy, diatomsi.
Unusual fish
Most animals of the Indian Ocean are rare or simply unusual in appearance.Thus, among the most common and many fish there are sharks, rays, mackerel, dorado, tuna, rockcod.
If we talk about the unusual fish fauna representatives, it should be noted, such as:
- coral fish;
- parrot fish;
- white shark;
- whale shark.
commercial value among the fish are tuna, mackerel, dorado and rockcod.
Variety animals
Fauna of the Indian Ocean has the representatives of the following types, classes, families:
- Fish.
- Reptiles (sea snakes and turtles giant).
- Mammals (sperm whales, seals, blue whales, sei whales, elephant seals, dolphins, whales are toothless).
- Shellfish (a giant octopus, octopus, snails).
- Sponges (lime and silicon form);
- Echinoderms (sea beauty, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, brittle stars).
- Crustaceans (crabs, crab, lobster).
- Hydroids (polyps).
- Mshankovye.
- Coral polyps (form coastal reefs).
animals such as sea beauties have a very bright color, live on the bottom and have a hexagonal shape with radial symmetry of the body.Thanks to them, the ocean floor looks bright and picturesque.
giant octopus - a large octopus tentacles which extends the length of 1.2 m. The body in this case, as a rule, no more than 30 cm in length.
lime and silicon sponges play an important role in the formation of the bottom of the Indian Ocean.Along with benthic algal species, they form a whole deposits of calcareous and siliceous sediments.
most terrible predator of these habitats - the white shark, whose dimensions reach 3 meters.Ruthless killer and very agile, it is practically a major storm of the Indian Ocean.
very beautiful and interesting fish of the Indian Ocean - coral fish.They are brightly colored and intricately are flat, elongated shape of the body height.These fish are very cleverly able to hide in the bushes of coral polyps, where they were not able to get any predator.
cumulative conditions of the Indian Ocean are allowed to be its fauna so varied and interesting, to attract those wishing to study it.
Flora
Contour map of the Indian Ocean gives a general idea of what he is on the border.And starting from this, it is easy to assume some will plant community of the ocean.
proximity of the Pacific Ocean contributes to the wide dissemination of brown and red algae, many species of which are of commercial importance.Green algae are also represented in all parts of the Indian Ocean.
interesting and unusual reputation for being overgrown giant makrotsistisa.It is believed that to get into these thickets of the ship is equivalent to death, because they are very easy to get confused, and it is absolutely impossible to get out.
main part of the plant world ocean up celled benthic, planktonic algae.
commercial value of the Indian Ocean Fishery
animals and plants in the Indian Ocean is not it full scale as in other deep oceans and seas.Today the ocean is a global source of reserve reserve valuable sources of nutrition.Contour map of the Indian Ocean can show the main island and the peninsula on which the most developed fishing and produces valuable species of fish and seaweed:
- Sri Lanka;
- Hindustan;
- Somalia;
- Madagascar;
- Maldives;
- Seychelles;
- Arabian Peninsula.
This allowed Indian Ocean, for the most part - a very valuable nutritionally views.However, very popular in this sense the water body does not use.Its main significance for people today - access to different countries, islands and peninsulas.
