Ocean Ecology and Marine Biology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from marine biology and ocean ecology lectures.

Phytoplankton

Microorganisms in oceans that contribute to half of the world's oxygen production.

Continental Margin

The boundary between oceanic and continental plates.

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem that affect organisms, including predation and competition.

Abiotic Factors

Physical and chemical components of an ecosystem, such as temperature and salinity.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Carrying Capacity (K)

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support.

Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including its habitat and resource use.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, primarily through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain food by consuming other living things.

Euphotic Zone

The upper layer of a water body that receives sufficient light for photosynthesis.

Estuaries

Areas where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

Halocline

A layer in the ocean where salinity changes rapidly with depth.

Euryhaline species

Organisms capable of tolerating a wide range of salinities.

Osmoregulation

The process of maintaining salt and water balance across membranes in the body.

Coral Reefs

Biologically diverse ecosystems formed by coral polyps, which are symbiotic with zooxanthellae.

Fringing Reef

A type of coral reef that is attached to the shore.

Mangroves

Woody shrubs found in coastal intertidal zones, crucial for stabilizing soil and providing habitat.

Benthic

Relating to organisms that live on or in the sea floor.

Plankton

Organisms that drift in water currents, including phytoplankton (plant-like) and zooplankton (animal-like).

Primary Production

The creation of organic compounds from atmospheric or aquatic carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

Trophic Structure

The feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms in an ecosystem.

What is the water cycle?

The water cycle refers to the continuous journey of water as it transitions between different states (liquid, vapor, solid) and moves through various processes, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection in various water bodies.

What are the stages of the water cycle?

The stages of the water cycle include: 1. Evaporation - the process by which water turns into vapor from oceans, lakes, and rivers; 2. Condensation - when water vapor cools and changes back into liquid droplets, forming clouds; 3. Precipitation - the stage where water falls back to Earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail; and 4. Collection - where water accumulates in oceans, rivers, and lakes, ready to start the cycle again.