Marine Ecology Lecture Notes

Flashcards about Marine Ecology

What is ecology?

The study of how organisms interact with the environment, both living and nonliving.

What are marine producers?

Organisms that make their own energy; often photoautotrophs such as algae and plants.

What are the two main types of marine producers?

Algae and plants.

What is the difference between microalgae and macroalgae?

Microalgae are single-celled or chains of cells, while macroalgae are multicellular with tissues and organs.

Give examples of macroalgae.

Seaweed and kelp.

What percentage of the ocean is made up of true plants?

5%

Give examples of true marine plants.

Sea grasses and mangroves.

What are heterotrophs?

Organisms that consume other organisms for energy.

What are scavengers?

Heterotrophs that consume dead material.

What is marine snow?

A shower of organic material (discarded fish slime, jellyfish pieces, & feces, gelatinous organisms) that starts at the surface waters and sinks slowly into the deep ocean.

What is plankton?

Any organism that cannot swim against the current.

What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?

Phytoplankton are photosynthetic producers, while zooplankton are heterotrophs.

What is nekton?

Organisms that can swim against the current.

Give examples of nekton.

Blue whales and clownfish.

What is the benthic zone?

It includes the substrate and up to three feet above the substrate, making up the bottom of the ocean.

What is the pelagic zone?

The area above the benthic zone, extending to the surface of the ocean.

What is the intertidal zone?

The boundary between the ocean and land, between the highest high tide and lowest low tide.

What is the littoral zone?

The near sea shore.

What is the subtidal zone?

The portion of the ocean covering the continental shelf.

Name the zones that cover the continental slope

Bathyal, abyssal, & hadal zones (BAH).

What are abyssal plains?

Flat areas at the bottom of the ocean.

What is the photic zone?

The portion of the ocean where photosynthetic organisms make more energy than necessary.

What is the aphotic zone?

The portion of the ocean where photosynthetic organisms make less energy than necessary.

What is the compensation point?

The portion of the ocean where photosynthetic organisms make the exact amount of energy necessary.

How do phytoplankton stay in the photic zone?

By creating lipids to lower their density, allowing them to float up.

What is marine migration?

It involves heterotrophs from the aphotic zone moving to the photic zone at night and returning to the aphotic zone during the day.

What three nutrients are carried by runoff into the intertidal zone?

Nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P).

Name two environmental factors that organisms must be resistant to in the rocky intertidal zone?

Desiccation and wave force.

Where do organisms typically locate themselves in sandy/muddy zones?

Organisms bury themselves in the substrate.

What are the three main phyla of macroalgae?

Chlorophyta (green), Rhodophyta (red), and Phaeophyta (brown).

Where do benthic microalgae live in the sandy/muddy intertidal zone?

They live in individual grains of sand or particles of mud.

What is the genus of the common green algae Caulerpa?

Caulerpa.

Where is Caulerpa found?

Worldwide tropical oceans.

What is the common name for a type of Chlorophyta found worldwide?

Dead man’s fingers.

What is the common name for the phaeophyta found in socal and very resistant to wave force but very susceptible to desiccation?

Southern sea palm

What is the common name for a type of phaeophyta found in socal that is very susceptible to wave force but very resistant to desiccation

Feather Boa Kelp

Describe the characteristics of red algae (Rhodophyta).

Red algae contain pigments like phycoerythrin, which gives them their red color. They are mostly marine and can be found in deep waters.

What is the ecological role of macroalgae in marine ecosystems?

Macroalgae serve as primary producers, providing energy and nutrients for other organisms. They also create habitats and serve as shelter for various marine species.

How do marine organisms adapt to the challenges of living in the intertidal zone?

Marine organisms in the intertidal zone adapt to desiccation, wave action, and temperature fluctuations through adaptations like protective shells, strong attachments, and physiological tolerances

Explain the process of marine snow formation and its significance.

Marine snow is formed from organic matter like dead organisms, fecal matter, and discarded mucus that sinks from the surface waters to the deep ocean, providing a food source for deep-sea organisms

What are the key differences between the photic and aphotic zones in terms of light availability and biological activity?

The photic zone receives sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis, supporting a high level of primary production. The aphotic zone receives little to no sunlight, limiting photosynthesis and relying on chemosynthesis and organic matter for energy.