Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography - Human Presence in the Oceans

VOCABULARY flashcards covering Marine Ecology and Oceanography lecture on human presence in the oceans, including pollution types, oil spills, chemical contaminants, and fishing practices.

Pollution

The introduction of substances or energy into the environment by humans, directly or indirectly, resulting in deleterious effects to living organisms, ecosystems, human health, and marine activities.

Gary Fones

The professor and contact for the Introduction to Marine Ecology and Oceanography module M25775.

Benthic habitats

A zone on the sea floor where pollutants tend to concentrate through settling and burrowing processes.

Pycnocline

A density-driven zone in the water column, often found in estuaries, where pollutants tend to accumulate.

Neuston layer

The air/sea interface layer, measuring between $0.1\,mm$ and $10\,mm$, where pollutants are often concentrated.

Natural seepage

The natural escape of oil from the sea bed which serves as a baseline for measuring anthropogenic pollution.

Petroleum

A complex mixture of hydrocarbons containing various amounts of nitrogen and metals; also known as crude oil as it comes from the ground.

River runoff

The source responsible for most of the oil found in the sea, exceeding the amount from major tanker accidents.

Weathering of an oil slick

The process of oil alteration in the environment including spreading, drift, evaporation, emulsification, sedimentation, and biodegradation.

Oil dissipation factors

Variables such as weather, composition of crude oil, waves, and currents that determine how oil spreads.

Floating booms

A method employed to attempt the cleanup of an oil spill by containing the oil on the surface.

Chemical dispersants

Substances used to break down oil slicks into smaller droplets to facilitate dissipation.

Bioremediation

The use of biological organisms to help clean up oil spills in the environment.

Torrey Canyon

A 1967 oil spill off Cornwall where chemical dispersants were used and the RAF bombed the wreck to burn off the oil.

Exxon Valdez

A major oil spill in Alaska on March 24, 1989, which released more than $37,000\,tonnes$ of crude oil.

Deepwater Horizon

An oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico associated with a major spill affecting coastal waters of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Municipal and Industrial Effluent

Waste produced by humans, totaling over $20 \times 10^9\,tons$ annually, much of which is disposed of in the ocean.

Contaminant plume

A formation created as effluents are released into the water, which increases in size with distance as the pollutant is diluted.

Sewage

Waste consisting mostly of human sludge or organic and inorganic chemicals that can cause eutrophication.

Heavy metals

Toxic elements such as Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Copper, and Nickel that occur in trace amounts in the ocean.

Bioaccumulation

The process where organisms retain and concentrate a toxic material within their body.

Biomagnification

The increase in concentration of toxic material at each successive trophic level of a food chain.

Artificial biocides

Chemically-manufactured toxic compounds that do not occur naturally, such as DDT and PCB.

DDT

Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane, a pesticide and artificial biocide that increases in concentration through the food chain.

PCB

Polychlorinated biphenyls, a variety of artificial biocides found in various products.

PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, emerging contaminants mentioned in recent studies (Ford & Ginley, 2024) regarding sewage discharge.

PFBA in macroalgae

An emerging contaminant showing very high bioconcentration with a Bioaccumulation Factor ($BAF > 6000$).

Dredging

The process of clearing the sea floor, accounting for $80-90\%$ of all material dumped at sea each year.

Deep sea mining

The extraction of minerals like Gold, Silver, Copper, and Zinc from vent fields using hydraulic pumping systems.

First deep-sea mining permit

Granted by the government of Papua New Guinea for mining in the vent fields of the Bismarck Sea.

Maximum sustainable yield

The theoretical maximum amount of fish that can be removed from a population without interfering with its ability to renew itself.

Precautionary principle

The approach of avoiding any action that may damage or negatively impact a fishery, potentially replacing the maximum sustainable yield concept.

By-catch

Fish caught unintentionally while trying to catch other species, often thrown back dead.

Marine Stewardship Council logo

A symbol used to identify seafood choices from well-managed, sustainable stocks.

Microplastics

Plastic particles in the ocean resulting from littering, rain, and winds, which cause hazards through ingestion.

Chelsea Rochman

The scientist who delivered the 2020 Revelle Lecture titled 'Ocean Plastic: A Scientist\'s Tale'.

Loop Current

A major ocean current in the Gulf of Mexico that influenced the extent of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Tar Balls

Solidified residues of heavy oil that form as part of the weathering process on the sea surface.

Eutrophication

An effect caused by sewage and nutrient enrichment (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) in water bodies.

DDT concentration in Ospreys

Top-level concentration in the food chain reaching $25.0\,ppm$ due to biomagnification.

Neuston

Organisms or pollutants found at the very surface of the ocean (air/sea interface).

Advection and diffusion

Physical processes listed as part of the hydrocarbon pollution cycle on the sea surface.

Bismarck Sea depth

The location where ore could be raised from depths of $1,600\,m$ during deep-sea mining.

MSFD

Marine Strategy Framework Directive, mentioned in the context of regulating organic micropollutants.

Conservative Pollution

Pollution that persists in the environment without being broken down easily by natural processes.

Non-conservative Pollution

Pollution that can be broken down or removed by oceanographic and biological processes.

Marine Conservation Society (MCS)

A registered charity that provides lists of sustainable 'Fish to eat' and 'Fish to avoid'.

Copper (Cu)

One of the trace heavy metals found in effluent that is toxic in larger dosages.

Cadmium (Cd)

A heavy metal listed as a toxic municipal and industrial effluent component.

Arsenic (As)

A trace element classified as a heavy metal pollutant in marine environments.