Life in the Oceans
Ecosystems
include the biological communities and their physical environments
where are rift valleys located?
mid ocean ridges
competition
occurs when organisms require the same limiting resources such as food, space, or mates
What does the term neritic refer to?
of or relating to the region of water lying directly above the sublittoral zone of the sea bottom.
what is the modern definition of a species?
one or more populations of potentially interbreeding organisms that are reproductively isolated from other such groups.
What does pelagic refer to?
open seas or ocean
which ocean has a lot of volcanoes and earthquakes along its margins?
pacific
which type of continental margin typically has a wide continental shelf?
passive
Give an example of abiotic factors affecting marine organisms
physical (abiotic)- temperature, salinity, pH, sunlight, currents, wave action, sediment
what property of water makes it such a good solvent?
polarity
biological community
populations of different species that occupy one habitat at the same time
What is an autotroph?
producer
What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
prokaryotic lacks a nucleus and has no membrane bound organelles. eukaryotic has well defined nucleus and multiple membrane bound organelles.
which macromolecule is an enzyme an example of?
proteins
what do you call a rapid change in density with depth?
pycnocline
Explain the process of the scientific method.
question-> research-> hypothesis-> experiment-> data-> conclusion
what term describes the mechanism by which new species arise due to geographical (habitat) isolation?
reproductive isolation
where are hydro thermal vents typically located?
rift valleys
name three different processes that removes salts from the ocean
sea spray, evaporation, Salts in sediments may be returned to the interior of the earth as tectonic plates collide and one plate is subducted (pulled) under the other, ions can adhere on the surface of small particles
why are abyssal plains very flat?
sediments carried from continental shelves are eventually deposited on the deep sea floor covering irregular topography
What is osmosis?
semipremeable membranes allow water but not solutes to move across
Are tides shallow water waves or deep water waves?
shallow
What is resource partitioning and give an example on a coral reef?
slight variations in niche that allow similar species to coexist, example fairy basslets, brown chromis, and soldier fish are all plankton feeders but don't directly compete.
what are the six major ions dissolved in water?
sodium, chloride, sulfate, magnesium, calcium, potassium
What is osmoconformers?
some organisms cannot regulate their internal salt balance and will have the same salinity as their external environment
Define the term habitat
specific place in the environment where the organism lives (rocky , sandy shore, mangrove, coral reefs).
Marine Biology
study of the organisms that inhabit the seas and their interactions with each other and their environment
What theories did Alexander Agassiz develop?
suggested that the Pacific and Caribbean were once connected
What is the primary energy source for autotrophs?
sun or some form of chemicals
what is the residence time of a substance?
the length of time a substance remains in the adsorbed, suspended, or dissolved state.
What is plankton?
the small and microscopic organisms drifting or floating in the sea or fresh water, consisting chiefly of diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans, and the eggs and larval stages of larger animals.
what does bathymetry mean?
the study of depth and shape of the bottom of the ocean
Define the term ecology
the study of interactions of organisms with each other with their environment
Oceanography
the study of the oceans and their phenomena, and involves sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and meteorology
what do you call a rapid change in temperature with depth?
thermocline
what is the difference between a transform fault and a fracture zone?
transform fault: region where plates move in opposite direction fracture zone: parallel series of linear valleys perpendicular to the ridge
where would you expect to find a higher average open ocean salinity: in the tropics or in the desert belts?
tropics
what is a mixed semi diurnal tide?
two high tides and two low tides of different sizes every lunar day
name three different processes that add salts in the oceans
volcanism, hydrothermal vents, erosion, runoff
Define the term niche
what an organism does in its environment- range of environmental and biological factors that affect its ability to survive and reproduce
What was the driving force behind the initial studies into oceanography?
We know more about the surface of the moon then we do about the deepest parts of the ocean
Define the term homeostasis
all organisms need to maintain a stable internal environment, even though their external environment may be changing continuously.
what is the principle of constant composition?
all samples of a given chemical compound have the same elemental composition by mass.
which organelle is the site for photosynthesis in eukaryotic cells?
chloroplasts
what is the name of the boundary between the continental shelf and the continental slope?
coarse
Define the term ecosystem
composed of living organisms and their non living environment, while the biosphere includes all of the earth's ecosystems taken together
are protists prokaryotic or eukaryotic organisms?
eukaryotic
What is eutrophication?
excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
what is a turbidity current?
fast moving flow of sediments on the continental slope
what organelles is a long hair like structure used in propulsion?
flagella
What is the name of a rising or incoming tide?
flood tide
which comes first, the genus or species name when describing an organism using the binomial system?
genus
which is capitalized, the genus or species name when describing an organism using the binomial system?
genus
give three roles of lipids in marine organisms
1) store energy, 2) cushion vital organs, 3) increase buoyancy
What is the average percent of energy passed from one trophic level to another in a food chain? What is the rest used for?
10%; feeding, metabolism, reproduction
what is the approximate average depth of a continental margin?
130 meters
what is the length of a tidal day?
24 hours and 50 mins
What is the average salinity of the oceans (include units)?
35%, 1000g=965g water and 35g dissolved solids
What percentage of the earth is covered with oceans?
71%
which two words are used to describe a species in the binomial nomenclature system?
genus, species
what effect does adding salt have on the boiling point and freezing point of water?
Adding salt raises the conductivity, since the ions are electrically charged.
who independently formulated similar ideas to Darwin on the theory of evolution by natural selection?
Alfred wallace
What does it mean if an organism is anaerobic?
An anaerobic organism or anaerobe is any organism that does not require oxygen for growth.
Define a keystone predator and give an example of one
An organism whose effect on the biological diversity of an area disproportionate to its abundance. The ochre sea store in the intertidal zone of western North America.
compare sexual and asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is done with only one individual or cell in the process (called mitosis) and usually involves splitting or grafting of the original organism. Sexual reproduction occurs when one cell fertilizes another (sperm and egg are the most common terms for it) and it usually results in a more stable gene pool because more chromosome combinations are possible.
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
CO2 + 2H2A + photons → [CH2O] + 2A + H2O carbon dioxide + electron donor + light energy → carbohydrate + oxidized electron donor + water
Who was the scientists on board the HMS Beagle in 1831?
Charles Darwin
Who was the chief scientist on board the HMS Challenger from 1872 to 1876?
Charles Wyville Thomson
In which type of symbiotic relationship does one organ benefit and the other is not harmed in any way but does not benefit?
Commensalism
How do chemosynthetic organisms generate energy?
Converting of one or more carbon molecules (usually carbon dioxide or methane) and nutrients into organic matter
what are the two types of nucleic acids?
DNA and RNA
What do detritivores feed on?
Detritus from feces and decaying plants and animals
What theories did this scientist develop?
Developed theories on the formation of atolls
In the early 19th century, who proposed that no life could live in the deep ocean?
Edward Forbes
what do you call a rapid change in salinity with depth?
halocline
What is the difference between epifauna and infauna?
Infaunal meaning a shellfish, usually with a smooth shell, that burrows within sediment(burrower) Epifaunal meaning a shellfish usually spined that lives above the ground(non-burrower)
What is the difference between interspecific and infraspecific competition?
Interspecific competition occurs between organisms between different species, whereas infraspecific competition is between organisms of the same species
What does benthic refer to?
It comprises the bottom—such as the ocean floor or the bottom of a lake—the sediment surface, and some sub-surface layers.
what are the various levels of species classification, from most to least inclusive?
Kingdom Phylum or Division Class Order Family Genus Species
is nitrate a conservative or non conservative constituent of seawater?
conservative
what is the name of the boundary between the continental shelf and the continental slope?
continental margin
what is the name of the device used to determine salinity by measuring the bending of light as it passes from air to the water sample?
Refractometer
Name and describe the three types of symbiotic relationships.
Symbiosis- occurs where organisms develop close relationships to each other, to the extent that one frequently depends on the other for survival. Mutualism- both organisms benefit from the relationship (corals and sea anemones); Commensalism- one organism benefits while the other is not harmed but doesn't benefit (sharks and remoras); Parasitism- parasites live off a host, which is harmed (worms in a digestive tract)
is salt water denser or less dense than freshwater?
denser
what is the difference between a cladogram and a traditional phylogenetic tree?
The phylogenetic tree reflects the evolutionary relationship among groups in a branching pattern. The cladogram actually specifies the derived characteristics.
Why study marine biology? Give three reasons.
To dispel misunderstandings about Marine Life; to preserve our fisheries and food source; to conserve marine biodiversity
what is a trace element?
a chemical element present only in minute amounts in a particular sample or environment.
What is the carrying capacity of a population?
a dynamic point which may fluctuate with changes in resource availability and predator behavior
Define the term population
a group of organisms of the same species that occupies a specific area
What is an ectotherm?
an animal that is dependent on external sources of body heat.
What is an endotherm?
an animal that is dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat; a warm-blooded animal.
list four possible isolating mechanisms that lead to a sympatric speciaton.
anatomical, behavioral, temporal, biochemical isolation
what is the continental rise?
at the base of the continental slope the accumulation of sediment creates a gentle slope.
which ocean has passive margins?
atlantic
how does salinity compared between the Atlantic and Pacific?
atlantic is narrower so the salinity average is higher
Give an example of biotic factors affecting marine organisms
biological (biotic)- other living organisms and their interactions (competition, reproduction)
which polysaccharide is used for structure in the cell wall of plants?
cellulose
which polysaccharide is used for the hard exterior of crabs and lobsters?
chitin
What inorganic nutrients do photosynthetic organisms require?
chlorophyll
