marine ecology vocab

ecology

the study of organisms and their interactions among the enviroment

abiotic factor

the non-living environmental factors such as physical or chemical features

abiotic factor example

salinity, pH, temperature, currents, sediment

biotic factor

the living environment, including other organisms

biotic factor example

other organisms that live in an ecosystem

habitat

the area in which an organism lives

habitat example

sea turtles live near coral reefs

niche

the ecological role an organism plays within the ecosystem

niche example

blue tangs are prey for larger predators such as groupers and moray eels

commensalism

a symbiotic relationship that occurs when once species benefits (obtains food, shelter, or another benefit) and the other is unaffected

commensalism example

whales give the barnacles a stable place to live, a free ride, and access to plenty of food on their back

mutualism

a symbiotic relationship that occurs when two species benefit one another

mutualism example

clownfish live inside sea anemone, receiving protection from its stinging tentacles. in return, it cleans the anemone’s tentacles by eating off them

parasitism

a symbiotic relationship that occurs when one species benefits, and the other is harmed

parasitism example

when eel swim bladder nematode larvae are eaten by the Japanese eel, they make their way to the eel’s swim bladder where they grow into reproducing adults

interspecific competition

occurs when members of different species compete

interspecific competition example

sharks and dolphins compete to eat schools of fish

intraspecific competition

occurs when members of the same species compete

intraspecific competition example

in a group of clownfish licving in the same anemone, only one pair breeds (usually the largest male and female). the other males compete to move up the rank in case the dominant male or female dies

limiting resources

resources that are in short supply which, in turn, can decrease the rate of growth for a population

limiting resources example

food, shelter, dissolved oxygen, etc

natural selection

the idea that well-adapted species overcome environmental challenges and produce more offspring than other species that are not as well-adapted

natural selection example

in some shark species, embryos eat their siblings’ eggs or even other embryos inside the mother’s uterus

benthic zone

organisms that live on or are buried at the bottom of the ocean

benthic zone example

oysters, lobsters, and starfish

pelagic zone

organisms that live in the water column

pelagic zone examples

sharks, squids, and dolphins

autotroph

organisms that are capable of photosynthesis; they gain all their energy from sunlight

autotroph

bacteria and algae

heterotroph

organisms that must gain their energy from organic matter that is created by autotrophs

heterotroph example

all animals

food chain

the transfer of matter and energy as food from one organism to another

food chain example

phytoplankton → zooplankton → anchovies → tuna

food web

a complex interconnection of energy transfer relationships between organisms

detritus

dead organic matter that is in solid form

detritus example

the remains of a single whale can feed many deep-water scavengers

gross primary productivity

the total amount of organic energy created by primary producers

gross primary productivity example

the total amount of glucose (energy) and oxygen produced by phytoplankton through photosynthesis

net primary productivity

the difference between the gross primary production of primary producers and the energy used for respiration

net primary productivity example

phytoplankton use some of the glucose (energy) that they create through photosynthesis to stay alive, grow, and reproduce