Oceanography Chp 9 Study Questions

How does natural system a classification differ from an artificial system? Can you give an example of each? What is a hierarchy-based system?

A natural system of classification for living organisms relies on organisms evolutionary history and the developmental characteristics. Any system dependent on other schemes is artificial, it does not reflect the underlying biological relationships between categorized organisms. An example of an artificial system of classification is the arrangement of compact disks by jacket color, or manufacturer or label design. A grouping of objects by degrees of complexity, grade, or class.

What is an autotroph? A heterotroph? How are they similar? How are they different?

Autotrophs are organisms that use light energy to synthesize organic compounds. Heterotrophs are organisms that can use energy from organic compounds to synthesize other organic compounds. An autotrophs are producers, while heterotrophs are consumers.

What is a limiting factor? Can you think of some examples not given in the text?

Limiting factor is a physical factor that can adversely affect the function of an organism. A physical or biological necessity whose presence in appropriate amounts limit the normal action of an organism. An example would be a small planktonic autotroph equipped with a silica-rich shell, that will then find itself a water mass almost completely devoid of silicate minerals.

Is evolution by natural selection a random process?

No evolution is not a random process. Genetic variation for natural selection may occur randomly, but natural selection itself is not random.

What do primary procedures produce? How is photosynthesis different from chemosynthesis?

Primary producer produces an organism capable of using energy from light or energy rich chemicals in the environment to produce energy rich organic compounds. Photosynthesis is a light energy that is used to synthesize molecules in stored energy. Chemosynthesis is employed by some species of bacteria and archaea, that is the biological conversion of simple carbon molecules into carbohydrates using the oxidation of inorganic molecules as a source of energy. In photosynthesis, water is needed to fuel the process, in chemosynthesis, water is an end result of the process.

Name and briefly discuss five physical factors of the marine environment that impact living organisms. How is each different in the ocean from the land?

The physical factors which have an impact on marine organisms are light, because since sunlight is important process or photosynthesis. Temperature because this influences the metabolic rate of an organism. Oxygen because us as humans need oxygen to survive, and plants are what give that off. Salinity because of salt dissolves in the body of the water. And finally water movement, since water is trying to reach sea level due to gravity.

Outline the steps involved in evolution by natural selection. What is meant by "natural"?

The steps involved in evolution by natural selection is overproduction, genetic variation, struggle to survive, and successful reproduction. Overproduction, meaning a species produces more offspring than can survive to maturity. Next, genetic variation, this is where the offspring will have some differences in appearance of behavior. Struggle to survive, resources are limited. Finally, successful reproduction is the key to natural selection, organisms have beneficial adaptations that help in survival and that will reproduce and pass on their genes. Natural selection is how organisms that adapt to an environment to survive and reproduce more than others.

What is the ultimate source of the energy used by most living things?

The ultimate source of energy used by most living things is sunlight. Everybody and everything needs sunlight, without it you would have a lack of vitamins.

What is a trophic pyramid? What is the relationship of organisms in a trophic pyramid? Does this have anything to do with food webs?

Trophic pyramids is a model of feeding relationships among organisms. Primary producers form the base of the pyramid, consumers eating one another form the higher levels, with the top consumer at the apex. This has to do with food web because they are eating and fighting each other to be at the top of the food chain, or pyramid.

Would you support expenditure of governmental funds to search for asteroids or other bodies on a collision course with Earth? What would the public's response be to discovery of a serious threat?

Yes, government funds can be expended in search of asteroids or other bodies that collide Earth, because then the collision of smaller asteroids can produce crazy results. The public's response to this discovery would be to panic at first, but then later to try and figure out how to prevent it, or how it to gain knowledge from a collision, such as an asteroid collision.