Marine Biology Review Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards derived from marine biology lecture notes covering key concepts, terminology, and definitions.

Plankton

Tiny organisms that float in water, including both phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Pneumatocysts

Gas-filled bladders in some seaweeds that help them float.

Phytoplankton

Autotrophic plankton that perform photosynthesis.

Zooplankton

Heterotrophic plankton that feed on phytoplankton and other zooplankton.

Diatom Reproduction

Asexually through binary fission, but can also reproduce sexually when conditions are unfavorable.

Nitrogen Fixation

The conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia or related compounds in soil and water.

Diatoms

Single-celled organisms with silica cell walls; important primary producers.

Dinoflagellates

Single-celled protists with two flagella; can be photosynthetic or heterotrophic.

Algal Blooms

Rapid growth of algae in water, often due to nutrient enrichment; can lead to hypoxia.

Cnidarians

Aquatic animals with stinging cells, such as jellyfish and corals.

Ctenophores

Gelatinous marine animals also known as comb jellies, distinguished by their unique way of locomotion.

Nekton

Aquatic animals that are able to swim and move independently of water currents.

Pinniped

A group of marine mammals that includes seals, sea lions, and walruses.

Otolith

Ear stones found in fish and other aquatic animals, important for balance.

Mustelidae

Family of carnivorous mammals that includes weasels, otters, and badgers.

Lateral Line

A sensory organ in fish that detects movement and vibration in the water.

Sirenian

Order of aquatic mammals that includes manatees and dugongs.

Functional-Morphology Plane

A framework to differentiate between the locomotion mechanics of acceleration, cruising, and maneuvering in fish.

Swim Bladder

An internal gas-filled organ that helps fish maintain buoyancy.

Feeding Mechanisms

Methods used by fish to obtain food, which include filter feeding, suction feeding, and biting.

Telescoped Hearing

Adaptation in fish that allows them to detect sound in their aquatic environment.

Odontoceti

Suborder of toothed whales including dolphins and sperm whales.

Mysticeti

Suborder of baleen whales that filter feed using baleen plates.

Seabird Migration

Seasonal movement of seabirds to forage, breed, or avoid harsh climates.

Marine Mammal Diving Problems

Challenges related to pressure, oxygen management, and temperature regulation during dives.

Sea Turtle Life Cycle

The life stages of sea turtles including hatching, juvenile, and adult stages.

Diurnal Vertical Migration

The daily movement of zooplankton and fish to deeper waters during the day and back to surface waters at night.

Bioluminescence

The ability of some organisms to produce light biologically, often used for predation and communication.

Limiting Nutrients

Nutrients that are in short supply and limit primary production in marine ecosystems.

Nitrogen Cycle

The process by which nitrogen is converted into various chemical forms, including fixation, nitrification, and denitrification.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total amount of energy captured by photosynthesis in an ecosystem.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

GPP minus the energy used by plants for respiration.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass.

Food Web

A complex network of feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms without a nucleus, such as bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus, including plants, animals, fungi, and protists.

Seaweed Characteristics

Photosynthetic marine eukaryotes that lack true roots, stems, and leaves.

Seagrasses

Flowering plants that grow underwater, distinct from true seaweeds.

Porifera

The phylum of sponges, simple aquatic animals with porous bodies.

Cnidaria

Phylum that includes jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones, recognized by their stinging cells.

Mollusca

A diverse phylum including snails, clams, octopuses, and squids.