AICE Marine Science, Chapter 3

Autotroph

an organism that captures energy in light or chemicals and produce carbs from simple molecules such as Oxygen

Photosynthesis

The process of using light energy to make glucose from carbon dioxide and water

Chemosynthesis

The production of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using energy derived from reactions with inorganic chemicals

Heterotroph

An organism that can't make its own food

Primary Productivity

rate at which biomass is created by producers in an ecosystem

Carbohydrate

Organic compounds occurring in living tissues that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Phytoplankton

Microscopic photosynthetic organisms that live in the upper, sunlit layers of water

Chlorophyll

a pigment found in plants and algae that is used to absorb sunlight for photosynthesis

Thermocline

a boundary between two layers of water with different temperatures

Pynocline

a boundary between two layers of water with different densities

Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM)

the maximum concentration of chlorophyll below the surface of a body of water

Extrememophile

an organism that is adapted to survive extreme temperatures, pressure, salinity, or pH

Respiration

the process by which all living things release energy from their food by oxidising glucose

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

the amount of light or chemical energy fixed by producers in a given length of time in a given area

Net Primary Production (NPP)

the amount of energy that is left over after respiration to be made into new plant biomass

Secondary production

the rate of production of new biomass by consumers, using the energy gained by eating producers

Compensation Point

the light intensity at which the rate of photosynthesis and the rate of respiration are equal

Algal Bloom

a rapid increase in the population of

Hypoxic

an area of water with low concentration of dissolved oxygen

Ectothermic

Cold blooded (The way to not confuse them: eCto-Cold)

Endothermic

Warm blooded

Pyramid of numbers

a diagram that shows the number of organisms in each trophic level of the food chain

Pyramid of biomass

a diagram that shows the total biomass present in each trophic level of a food chain

Pyramid of energy

a diagram that shows the amount of energy in each trophic level of a food chain

Factors that affect photosynthesis

Nutrients

Light

Temp

CO2 Concentration

Where is most biomass located?

The first 200 meters

Is temperature more stable on water or land?

Water

What process allows phytoplankton to stay at the surface in the photic zone?

Thermocline

What layer has the highest productivity?

Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM)

-Highest concentration of chlorophyll

-Located in Thermocline

What limits photosynthesis in autumn and winter?

Less light

What limits photosynthesis in spring and summer?

Nutrient availability

Chemoautotrophs are usually species of bacteria like...

beggiatoa and thiol prix

Most common pathway for chemosynthesis

Hydrogen Sulfide+Oxygen+Carbon Dioxide-->Sugar+Water+Sulfur

What depth are hydrothermal vents located?

between 2000 and 7700 meters

Species in extreme environments are considered...

Extremophiles

Primary Production

Amount of new biomass made by producers

Secondary Production

Amount of new biomass made by consumers(heterotrophs)

Gross Primary Production (GPP)

The total primary production of an ecosystem.

Net Primary Production (NPP)

The total primary production of an ecosystem minus what is used for respiration.

(This is what gets passed to consumers)

Units for GPP and NPP

kJm-2 year-1

Light and Dark bottle method

a procedure for measuring productivity that involves using two bottles: one that is clear and allows light to penetrate and one that is opague and does not allow light to penetrate

Levels of Dissolved oxygen are measured

Readings in Light and Dark bottle method

3 readings

Start

Ending in Light Bottle

Ending in Dark Bottle

What is the GPP in the light and dark bottle method

The difference between light and dark bottles at the end.

Compensation point

Light is still available, but respiration outweighs photosynthesis

Compensation Point need to know

Referred to as the disphotic zone

90% of all marine life is above the compensation point

Area above this is the euphotic zone

Uses for satelite imagery

Used to measure the color of the surface layers of water

Used to identify amounts of chlorophyll

Problem is that this method cannot detect productivity in deeper water

Influences of changes in productivity of the food chain

-Higher productivity = more biomass = longer food chains

-The more productive areas of the ocean are where upwelling occurs

-Tropical areas have lower nutrients than cold areas due to stronger thermocline

-If there is too big of a nutrient increase too fast, this will lead to algal bloom, which leads to hypoxic waters

Not all light from the sun is absorbed by producers

Some is transferred back into space

Producers need this for respiration, so only the npp of biomass is available for the next trophic level

carbohydrates

Secondary production depends on

-Biomass available in producers

-The amount of energy lost through respiration by consumers

The amount of energy lost in waste products

Formula for energy transfer

C=P+R+F+U

C is energy consumed

P is energy left over from new biomass production

F is energy from feces

U is energy from urine

Efficiency of energy transfer can vary based on

-How much of the food is eaten

-How easy it is for the consumer to digest nutrients

-Energy used for movement

-Energy lost in waste product

Ectothermic and Endothermic fish energy transfer levels

TLTE is generally higher for Ectothermic because they don't waste energy heating themselves.