chapter5aicemarine

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on marine ecosystems, including ocean zones, coral reefs, rocky and sandy shores, and mangrove forests.

What are the world’s five oceans?

Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern.

What is the World Ocean?

A large, interconnected body of water encircling the world’s continents.

Which ocean covers the largest area?

Pacific Ocean, covering 33% of the ocean.

What is the deepest part of the ocean?

Mariana Trench.

How is the Atlantic Ocean divided?

Into North and South Atlantic by equatorial currents.

What defines the Southern Ocean?

Extends from Antarctica to 60 degrees S. latitude with essential southern circulation.

What characterizes the Arctic Ocean?

Smallest, shallowest, and least studied due to its icy location.

What are the five zones of the open ocean?

Epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic, and benthic.

What are the light conditions in the epipelagic zone?

High levels of light and nutrients.

What is the depth range of the mesopelagic zone?

200m to 1000m.

What characteristics define the bathypelagic zone?

No sunlight and organisms survive on detritus and marine snow.

What is unique about the abyssopelagic zone?

High pressure and near-freezing temperatures with blind and colorless animals.

What is the benthic zone?

The seafloor and immediately above it, the lowest/deepest zone.

How do oceans function as carbon sinks?

They absorb atmospheric CO2 and convert it into other forms in the carbon cycle.

What percentage of atmospheric oxygen is produced by phytoplankton?

50-85%, depending on the season.

What role do oceans play in climate control?

They help buffer temperature and store heat energy.

What is a polar region of the ocean?

A region characterized by very cold temperatures, typically found around the poles.

What is crucial for tropical coral reef formation?

Water temperature, depth, clarity, substrate, and salinity.

What temperature range do hard corals thrive in?

61-95 °F / 16-35 °C, preferably 73-77 °F / 23-25 °C.

What are the four types of tropical coral reefs?

Fringing, barrier, patch, and atoll.

What characterizes a fringing reef?

Close to shore, directly connected to land or separated by a narrow lagoon.

How does an atoll form?

Develops in a circular shape around a lagoon as volcanic islands subside.

Describe hard corals. Their significance?

They build reefs and have calcified skeletons, essential for reef structure.

What distinguishes soft corals from hard corals?

Soft corals lack a calcified skeleton and do not build reefs.

What are the major structures of a coral polyp?

Tentacle, nematocyst, mouth, stomach, calyx, theca, and basal plate.

How do corals obtain nutrition?

Through mutualism with zooxanthellae and filter feeding.

What are the ecological importance of coral reefs?

Tourism, food source, coastal protection, medicine, and biodiversity.

What is bioerosion?

Coral erosion caused by living organisms like certain fish.

What impact does pH change have on corals?

Lower pH increases stress, leading to coral bleaching.

What is ocean acidification?

A decrease in ocean pH due to increased atmospheric CO2.

What role do artificial reefs play?

Mimic natural reefs and increase biodiversity.

What are the zones of a typical rocky shore?

Splash zone, upper shore, middle shore, lower shore.

What adaptations do organisms in the splash zone exhibit?

Tolerance to desiccation and ability to store water.

What organisms are commonly found in the upper shore?

Chitons, barnacles, limpets, and periwinkles.

What defines the middle shore ecosystem?

Exposed to air and water equally, moderate biodiversity.

What adaptations help organisms in the lower shore?

Few adaptations since it remains mostly submerged.

Why do sandy shores have lower biodiversity?

Unstable substrate limits attachment and food sources.

What adaptations do ghost crabs have for sandy shores?

Deep burrows for temperature regulation and sand-colored camouflage.

Describe the ecological significance of mangrove forests.

Act as nurseries, coastal protectors, and carbon sinks.

What adaptations do red mangrove trees exhibit?

Prop roots for stability, oxygen uptake, and salt filtration.

What are the main threats to mangrove forests?

Temperature change, over-harvesting, storm damage, and coastal land use changes.

How do mangroves support biodiversity?

Provide habitat structures that promote diverse marine life.

How do mangrove forests help combat climate change?

They store carbon more effectively than tropical rainforests.