Marine Bio Unit 1 Study Guide

What is marine biology?

Marine biology is the study of living organisms in the ocean (plants, animals, microbes) and focuses on behavior, sociology, genetics, ecology, and marine life.

How much of the earth is made up of water?

70% of the earth is made up of water.

What are the eight categories of scientific classification?

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

What are the three domains of life?

Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

What are the six kingdoms?

Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

How do you write a scientific name for an organism?

The name consists of two parts: the first is the genus, and the second is the species.

What is evolution?

Evolution is the change in genetics over generations, often through natural selection.

What is Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?

It states that organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, making those traits more common over time.

What is the struggle for existence?

The struggle for existence refers to competition among organisms for food, water, and resources necessary for survival.

What does 'survival of the fittest' mean?

It means that organisms with better or advantageous traits are more likely to survive.

What is descent in evolutionary terms?

Descent refers to the passing down of traits across generations; beneficial traits are passed down more frequently.

What is evidence for evolution?

Fossil records that show organisms changing over time and comparative anatomy indicating common ancestry.

Why do humans have many skin colors?

Skin color variation evolved due to ultraviolet radiation; darker skin protects against UV while lighter skin aids in vitamin D production.

What are trophic levels?

Trophic levels are the steps or levels in a food chain, categorized from producers to apex predators.

Why are primary producers important?

They are essential as they form the base of the food chain and convert external energy into usable energy for other organisms.

What are the four main marine primary producers?

Phytoplankton, seaweeds (kelp), seagrass, and microalgae.

What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?

Phytoplankton are autotrophic (plant-like) organisms that produce their own food; zooplankton are heterotrophic (animal-like) organisms that feed on other plankton.

What is a trophic pyramid?

A diagram that shows the flow of energy through trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Define zooplankton.

Zooplankton are animal-like plankton that feed on other plankton.

Define phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton are plant-like plankton that produce their own food through photosynthesis.