Ecology Synthesis: Analysis Of Finding Nemo

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A. 4-2 Niches and Community Interactions

Tolerance- The ability to survive and reproduce under a range of conditions under a range of environmental circumstances.

A species’ tolerance for environmental conditions helps determine its habitat. In Finding Nemo, Nemo and Marlin’s home is a sea anemone. Anemone’s are common homes for clownfish that protect them from harm. This is the clownfish’s tolerance to the anemone, they are the only organisms that are able to enter the venomous organism that they call home. They tolerate having to maintain and take care of their home100, as most humans do, for a place to live. Other environmental circumstances are living in the warm parts of the water in coral reefs, where it is usually difficult to find food.

Niche- The range of physical and biological conditions in which a species lives and the way the species obtains what it needs to survive and reproduce.

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Similar to tolerance, the clownfishes’ main niche, or occupation is taking care of its home, the anemone. Frequently in Finding Nemo, Marlin reminds Nemo to brush the anemone unless he wants to be stung. The anemone provides the fish with shelter and200 food, and in return to not be stung, it asks to be groomed. The fish clean the anemone by eating the algae and food leftovers on its tentacles. So, the anemone provides the fish with safety, and the fish provide the anemone with safety.

Predation- An interaction in which one animal captures and feeds on another animal.

There are several examples of predation throughout Finding Nemo. The main predators of the movie are humans and sharks. The sharks are predators that affect the size of prey populations in a community. They are huge variables in why the fish live where300 they live, so they do not encounter the sharks and put themselves in danger. The humans are the central villain in the film, due to Nemo being captured and put into a fish tank by humans. The humans do not harm Nemo in any way intentionally, but they do take him away from his family and the food and environment he’s used to.

Commensalism- A relationship in which one organism benefits and other other is neither helped nor harmed.

This relationship is shown in Finding Nemo when Marlin and Dory encounter a whale with several barnacles on its skin. Barnacles400 commonly attach to whales and feed on the food in the water while the whale swims. In this relationship, only the barnacles are being benefited, and the whale doesn’t gain or lose anything. They perform no known service to the whale, but they aren’t harming it either, so the whale allows it, because they can’t be affected positively or negatively.

B. 6-3 Biodiversity

Species Diversity- The number of different species in the biosphere, or in a particular area.

Species diversity is one of the first things you notice in Finding Nemo due to the setting, the Great Barrier Reef. Throughout500 the film, you see thousands of different species from clownfish, to turtles, to barracudas, to even humans. It’s one of the most important aspects of the film, because we see Nemo interact with several species, and Marlin and Dory interact with even more in hopes of finding Nemo. Species diversity is the main aspect of the ocean and is what helps develop the central plot of Finding Nemo.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services- The number and variety of species in an ecosystem that can influence that ecosystem’s stability, productivity, and value to humans.

The value to humans is the main thing600 influenced by the variety of species. After Nemo is captured by Darla in the dentist’s office, he is put into a tank and is given fish food. These are all things that are different to Nemo and he is deprived of his usual. Darla has no value for the fish she endangers and kills.

Threats to Biodiversity- How human and predator activity reduces biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting, contributing to climate change, etc.

Similar to species diversity, there are other threats to biodiversity besides Darla. The scuba divers who capture nemo in the first place put all of the fish700 at risk. They also take pictures of Marlin underwater that impair his sight. These are examples of animal abuse, that pose as huge threats to biodiversity. Another threat is pollution and trenches that house predators that kill fish.

C. 5-1 How Populations Grow

Immigration and Emigration- Immigration is when individuals move into a population’s range, and emigration is when individuals move out of a range.

A good example of immigration and emigration in Finding Nemo is when Marlin and Dory encounter a group of turtles migrating using the East Australian800 Current. Turtles frequently move in and out of regions, which leads to a huge growth in their general population.

Density and Distribution- Population density is the number of individuals of a species per unit area. Population distribution is how the organisms are spread across their range.

In March of the Penguins, population density is shown several times. The film shows more than 10,000 emperor penguins that were able to live and breed in one particular spot that they had adapted to very well to sustain a population like that. Population density is depicted when showing where the male penguins900 tend to the eggs, while the female is miles away by the sea obtaining food.

Geographic Range- The geographic location that describes the space where a population lives.

The penguin population in March of the Penguins, predominantly is located in Antarctica. More specifically, on a particular mass of ice far from the open water. In the Antarctic summer, their breeding ground is only a couple hundred meters away from open water for feeding. However, in the rough winter it becomes over 62 miles away from the nearest open water.

Birthrate and Death Rate- The rate at which a population increases1000 or decreases.

The birthrate in March of the Penguins is constantly increasing from the breeding grounds. At the same time however, some penguins and chicks are killed after a fierce storm arrives. This doesn’t severely impact the penguins population because at the same time, penguins are breeding and laying eggs.

D. 5-2 Limits to Growth

Limiting Factors- Any factor that controls the size of a population.

There are many limiting factors in March of the Penguins that affect them significantly. Environmental factors are the ice mass they’re on is getting too soft to support the size of the colony, and1100 the storm that ends up killing a chick. The northern giant petrel is a limiting factor to the chick because it targets their breeding ground.

Predators- Organisms that capture and feed on another organism (the prey).

There are a few predators in Finding Nemo that are either trying to kill the fish or capture them. The sharks target the fish for a small portion of the movie and try to eat them. Humans like the scuba divers and Darla hold Nemo in captivity and deplete them of their resources.

Competition- When an area is crowded and organisms are left to1200 compete for food, water, space, sunlight, and other essentials.

Competition is seen multiple times in March of the Penguins. One example is how the males can only provide a small meal to the chicks when they hatch, given that there isn’t much food. If the females don’t return in time, the males must abandon their chick and return to sea to feed themselves.

E. 4-5 Aquatic Ecosystems

Coastal Ocean- Ocean that extends from the low-tide mark to outer edge of the continental shelf.

After Nemo is captured, he is taken out of the ocean and onto land, where he is1300 put in a fishtank in a dentist’s office. From the window of the dentist’s office, a view of the shore that goes into the open ocean can be seen. Water in the coastal ocean is brightly lit and in the film many organisms like pelicans live there.

Open Ocean- Area of the ocean that begins at the edge of the continental shelf and extends outward.

Finding Nemo mostly takes place in the open ocean that houses thousands of different organisms. This is the part of the ocean that has little to no light and can be as deep as 10,0001400 meters. This part of the ocean is split into two main zones based on light penetration, the photic and aphotic zones.

Photic Zone- Sunlit region near the surface in which photosynthesis can occur.

In Finding Nemo, we see Nemo swim up to the photic zone after getting mad at Marlin. He hits the top of the ocean where sunlight can be seen, and soon after swimming up is captured by scuba divers. The scuba divers only swim in the photic zone, so they are able to see. The film mostly takes place in this region.

Aphotic Zone- Region below the1500 photic zone that is so dark that photosynthesis cannot occur.

The aphotic zone is only seen in one scene in Finding Nemo. This is the scene where Marlin and Dory voyage to the darkest parts of the sea to find the diving mask. They see a bright light that ends up being an anglerfish, which is one of the many strange creatures that live in aphotic zone. The fish’s head glows brightly to lure fish for food.

F. 4-4 Biomes

Tundra- Biome characterized by permafrost, a layer of permanently frozen subsoil.

March of the Penguins takes place in1600 Antarctica, a huge tundra. Animals that live there have adapted to the climate and migrate during harsh winters. Some animals have adaptations meant for keeping warm, like natural antifreeze, a varied diet, etc.

Tropical Grassland- Biome that receives more seasonal rainfall than deserts but less than tropical dry forests.

In Finding Nemo, Nemo gets captured and taken onto land in Sydney, Australia. Sydney is a tropical grassland known for being grassy and spotted with isolated trees. Most animals migrate during the dry seasons for water, like the pelicans in the movie who migrate looking for water.

G. 3.2 Energy1700, Producers, and Consumers

Chemosynthesis-Process that organisms in the deep sea use to produce carbohydrates.

The anglerfish in Finding Nemo that chased Marlin and Dory used chemosynthesis to produce bioluminescence in its head to lure them in. Many other organisms use this to find food deep in the sea. Deep sea ecosystems like this depend on primary producers.

Consumers- Organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients.

Both the creatures in Finding Nemo and the penguins in March of the Penguins are consumers. They are dependent on other organisms for energy and rely on them. In Finding Nemo, everyone1800 is a consumer and relies on different organisms for food. In March of the Penguins, the penguins are the main consumer and rely on fish to eat and feed their children with.

Carnivores- Organisms that kill and eat other animals.

All organisms in both films are carnivores except for most of the smaller fish in Finding Nemo. The sharks in that film are no doubt carnivores, as well as eels, anglerfish, whales, etc. The penguins in the second movie are also carnivores because they still have to catch and kill prey.

H. 3-1 What is Ecology?

Biotic Factors- Any living1900 part of the environment with which an organism might interact.

Both movies display the relationships with biotic factors. We see in Finding Nemo many times organisms relying on each other for survival. Like the anemone Nemo lives in. The penguins eating fish is another biotic factor and whatever animal preys on penguins would be an example of how species compete with each other for food or space.

Abiotic Factors- Any nonliving part of the environment, like sunlight, heat, precipitation, humidity, wind, etc.

A good example of an abiotic factor would be the climate that the penguins live in. They live2000 on a mass of snow that is slowly melting and have to face harsh winters that entail dangerous storms. These are factors that impact the penguins’ way of living and where they make their breeding ground.

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