AICE Marine Science

Kinetic particle theory

all matter is a collection of particles that are in constant random motion

Particles

can be atoms or molecules

Covalent bonds

chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms

Ionic bonds

chemical bond that involves the attraction between two oppositely charged ions

Hydrogen bond

a weaker bond that between molecules with a hydrogen atom bonded to an atom of oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine

Solute

a solid that dissolves in a solvent

Solvent

a substance which is able to dissolve other substances

Solubility

the ability of a solute to dissolve within a solvent

Salinity

the concentration of dissolved salts in seawater, represented by parts per thousand (ppt)

Thermocline

Layer between two layers of water with different temperatures

Halocline

A layer of water where a rapid change in salinity can be measured as depth increases

Crust

The outermost layer of rock on Earth

Oceanic crust

the dense, basaltic layer of crust that makes up the bottom of the ocean basins

Continental crust

the thicker, less dense crust that makes up the foundation of the continents

Mantel

A region of molten rock within Earth, between the core and the crust

Core

The dense, central region within Earth

Continental drift

theory that continents are able to move over Earth's surface

Convergent boundaries

when tectonic plates come together

Divergent boundaries

when tectonic plates are moving away from each other

Transform boundaries

when tectonic plates are sliding next to each other

Ocean Trenches

A long-narrow and deep depression on the ocean floor with relatively steep sides

Mid-Ocean Ridges

mountain ranges with a central valley on an ocean floor, formed when new crust forms from upwelling magma between divergent boundaries

Hydrothermal Vents

an area where cold ocean water that has seeped into the Earth's crust is superheated by underlying magma and forced through vents in the ocean floor

Abyssal Plains

a flat, sandy region of the ocean floor found between trenches and the continental rise

Volcanoes

a mountain or hill with a crater/vent where lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are forced from the Earth's crust

Earthquakes

a sudden release of energy inside the Earth, usually caused by tectonic or volcanic activity

Tsunamis

a seismic sea wave created by an underwater earthquake or volcanic event

Weathering

The wearing down or breaking of rocks

Erosion

Material is worn away from the Earth's surface and transported elsewhere

Chemical weathering

When the chemical composition of rocks changes through exposure to water or oxygen

Physical weathering

When rocks are broken into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition

Organic weathering

When living organisms complete the weathering process

Ice Erosion

As a glacier moves over land, it breaks the rocks below and the sediments are carried on the bottom of the glacier as it moves

Water Erosion

Water picks up sediment and carries it by river runoff to oceans

Wind Erosion

Occurs when the wind blows, picking up small pieces of sand or sediment and moving them to new locations

Gravity Erosion

When rocks fall off cliffs, it is gravity moving it from point A to point B

Sedimentation

The deposition of suspended particles from water

Littoral Zone

The intertidal region on a shoreline, between the highest and lowest spring tide marks

Rocky Shores

Areas of shoreline characterised by the presence of rocky substrate

Sandy Shores

Shore made of loose deposits of sand, small pieces of gravel, and shells

Muddy Shores

Shores found in protected regions made of fine silt and organic materials

Estuaries

Shores found in partially enclosed areas made of fine sand and silt

Deltas

Shores formed at the mouth of a river where it meets the sea

Tide

The rise and fall of bodies of water due to the position of the Moon, Earth, and Sun

Tidal Range

The difference in height between the high-tide mark and the low-tide mark

Spring Tide

A tide that occurs when the Sun and Moon are aligned, causing the largest tidal range

Neap Tide

A tide that occurs when the Moon and Sun are at right angles from each other, causing the smallest tidal range

Ocean Current

The continuous, directed movement of ocean water, driven by forces acting on the water

Global Ocean Conveyor Belt

Constantly moving systems of deep-ocean water driven by thermohaline circulation

El Nino

A warm current that can cause widespread death within local food chains

La Nina

A cold current that reduces sea surface temperatures for extended periods of time

Parasitism

Parasite benefits at the expense of the host

Commensalism

One organism benefits and the other is neutral

Mutualism

Both organisms benefit

Consumer

Organisms that have to obtain energy by feeding on autotrophs

Primary Consumer

Feed directly on the producer

Secondary Consumer

Feed on the primary consumer

Tertiary Consumer

Feed on the secondary consumer

Quaternary Consumer

Feed on the tertiary consumer

Producer

Autotrophs that create energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis

Herbivore

An animal which feeds only on producers (plants or plankton)

Carnivore

An animal which feeds on other animals

Omnivore

An animal which feeds on other animals and on producers

Decomposer

Bacteria and fungi which break down dead organic matter and release the nutrients back into the environment

Predator

An animal which hunts, kills, and eats other animals

Prey

An animal which is eaten by predators

Food Chain

A way to describe the feeding relationships between organisms

Food Web

A way to show all the different feeding relationships in an ecosystem

Trophic Level

The position an organism occupies in the food chain/web

Productivity

The rate of production of biomass per unit area or volume

Primary Productivity

The amount of new biomass made by the producers

Secondary Productivity

The amount of biomass produced by heterotrophs after eating the producers

Pyramid of Energy

Shows the amount of energy in each trophic level of a food chain

Pyramid of Numbers

Shows the number of organisms in each trophic level of a food chain

Pyramid of Biomass

Shows the biomass present in each trophic level of a food chain

Nutrient

Chemical that provides what is needed for organisms to grow, repair damaged cells/tissues, release energy, or for their metabolism

Marine Snow

Particles of organic material that fall from surface layers to the deeper ocean

Harvesting

The removal of marine species by humans

Taxonomic Hierarchy

A system for classifying organisms

Plankton

Generally microscopic organisms that have limited mobility and drift in water currents

Pentaradial Symmetry

5 arms coming from a central body cavity

Tube Feet

Water-filled tubes that assist in locomotion, feeding, and respiration

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms that interact with each other, and the environment around them, creating a self-sustainable system

Habitat

An organism's natural home/environment

Niche

The way an organism fits into the ecosystem

Species

A group of organisms that are in the same/similar gene pool

Population

The whole number of organisms in an environment/habitat

Community

All the different populations that interact with each other in an habitat/environment

Biotic Factors

Living parts of an ecosystem

Abiotic Factors

Non-living parts of an ecosystem

World Ocean

The combination of all major oceans into one large, interconnected body of water that encircles the world's continents

Hard Coral

Stony corals capable of reef-building that have a relationship with zooxanthellae

Soft Coral

Corals that do not build reefs and lack calcification

Mangrove Forest

A tidal ecosystem that features salt tolerant trees and other plants, together with other species