AICE Marine CH4

Cards 1-56 cover the info in notes 22-32 😛

What are plankton?

A diverse collection of generally microscopic organisms that drift in water currents.

What is the basis for the classification of marine organisms?

Organisms are classified based on features, relationships, and evolutionary pathways.

What is binomial nomenclature?

A universally recognized two-word name for each species, with the genus capitalized and species in lowercase.

How should the names in binomial nomenclature be formatted in print?

The name should be italicized

What is the hierarchy of biological classification from broadest to most specific?

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

What mnemonic helps remember the levels of classification?

Dumb King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti.

What is a dichotomous key?

A system used to identify organisms through pairs of contrasting descriptions.

What role do phytoplankton play in marine ecosystems?

They are producers that use photosynthesis and are found in surface waters with high light intensity.

What are diatoms?

Unicellular phytoplankton with silica cell walls, found in surface waters, and reproduce rapidly.

What are dinoflagellates and their significance?

Unicellular phytoplankton that can produce toxins and cause red tides, affecting marine life and humans.

What are zooplankton?

Consumers that include larvae and jellyfish, migrating vertically to feed on phytoplankton.

What are echinoderms?

A phylum of invertebrates including sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers, characterized by a hard calcium carbonate skeleton.

What is pentaradial symmetry?

A body structure with five arms radiating from a central body cavity, typical of echinoderms.

How do sea stars feed?

They evert their stomachs into opened shells to digest prey before absorbing nutrients.

What ecological role do crown-of-thorns starfish play?

They feed on fast-growing coral species, supporting the colonization of slower-growing corals.

What is the economic importance of sea cucumbers?

They can be a source of income in agriculture, fishing, and cuisine.

What are crustaceans?

A class of marine organisms including crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, characterized by a hard exoskeleton.

What is the function of the swim bladder in bony fish?

It acts as a buoyancy organ.

What is the role of krill in marine ecosystems?

They are a food source for many marine species and play a significant role in the food web.

What are the external features of bony fish?

Gills covered by operculum, swim bladder, and a lateral line for detecting changes in the environment.

What happens to the krill population due to global warming?

It can decline due to warming ocean water affecting ocean currents.

What is the significance of the lateral line in bony fish?

It contains sense organs that detect electric fields and vibrations in the water.

What are the two parts of a crustacean's exoskeleton?

Cephalothorax and abdomen.

What is the function of the tube feet in echinoderms?

They help in movement, feeding, and gaseous exchange for respiration.

What is the impact of overharvesting sea urchins?

It can lead to an increase in kelp population due to reduced grazing pressure.

What are the economic uses of crustaceans?

They are used for food, bait for fishing, and in the pharmaceutical industry.

What are the ecological roles of crustaceans?

They help recycle nutrients and serve as a food source for various marine organisms.

What are scales in fish made of?

Bone, overlapping, flexible, covered by skin and mucus.

What is the ecological importance of bony fish?

They store organic nutrients, link nutrient cycles, and serve as a food source for many species.

How do bony fish contribute to nutrient cycles?

Through excretion of nutrients like nitrates and phosphates used by producers.

What is a significant economic importance of bony fish?

They are an important source of protein and essential amino acids.

What is caviar and from which fish is it derived?

Caviar is from Russian sturgeon's eggs and is considered an expensive delicacy.

What are the ecological roles of cartilaginous fish?

They occupy various habitats and play a key role in marine food webs as predators.

What is a keystone species in marine ecosystems?

Sharks, as they help maintain prey population balance.

What are the culinary uses of cartilaginous fish fins?

They are considered a delicacy in China.

What is the primary component of the skeletons of cartilaginous fish?

Cartilage.

What are the main features of Phylum Chordata?

Notochord, dorsal neural tube, pharyngeal slits, and post-anal tail.

What are the three main parts of macroalgae?

Holdfast, stipe, and blades.

What is the ecological importance of macroalgae?

Kelp forests provide habitat and generate nutrients/detritus.

How are macroalgae used in the food industry?

As additives like alginates and agar, and in sushi rolls.

What are the three variants of marine plants?

Floating, emergent, and submergent.

What is the role of seagrasses in marine ecosystems?

They provide food, habitat, and support biodiversity.

What is species diversity?

A measure of abundance and richness of species in a given area.

What is genetic diversity?

The variety of gene forms (alleles) within a species.

What is ecological diversity?

Variation of ecosystems/habitats at a regional or global level.

How does marine biodiversity contribute to ecosystem stability?

High biodiversity leads to stable ecosystems resistant to ecological change.

What role do phytoplankton play in climate control?

They absorb CO2 and release O2.

What is the significance of marine biodiversity for food resources?

It provides algae, crustaceans, and fish as food sources.

What are some sources of medicines derived from marine biodiversity?

Anticancer drugs like keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH).

What is the function of gas bladders in macroalgae?

To act as flotation aids and absorb additional wavelengths of light.

What is the structure of seagrass leaves?

Epidermis with chloroplasts, no stomata, and a thin waxy cuticle.

What is the role of the holdfast in macroalgae?

To anchor the kelp to the seabed.

What is the economic importance of shark liver oil?

Used in cosmetics, preserving leather, and treating arthritis and cancer.

What is the significance of the lateral line in cartilaginous fish?

It helps with sensing vibrations in the water.

What is the ecological role of kelp forests?

They serve as habitat for diverse marine fauna and generate nutrients.

How do cartilaginous fish ventilate their gills?

By taking water in through the mouth and out via gill slits.

What is the relationship between unstable environments and biodiversity?

Unstable and extreme environments tend to have low biodiversity.

Why are hydrothermal vents considered extreme environments?

They have abiotic conditions outside the tolerance zone for most organisms, such as extreme temperature, pH, pressure, and toxins.

What are the characteristics of reef slopes that contribute to low biodiversity?

Reef slopes have steep walls and sandy substrates that change due to wave action, leading to a low number of producers and short food chains.

What types of environments typically have high biodiversity?

Stable, non-extreme environments such as coral reefs and rocky shores.

What abiotic conditions support high biodiversity in coral reefs?

Conditions are close to optimum for producers, leading to long food chains.

Define habitat.

The natural environment where an organism lives, which may not always be geographical.

What is a niche in an ecosystem?

The role of a species within an ecosystem, including its relationships as producers, consumers, and decomposers.

What is a species?

A group of similar organisms that can interbreed naturally to produce fertile offspring.

Define population.

The individuals of the same species that live in the same place and time.

What is a community in ecological terms?

A group of different populations living in the same habitat at the same time that interact with one another.

What is an ecosystem?

All the living organisms in an area plus the non-living environmental factors that act upon them.

What are biotic factors?

Relationships between living organisms, including feeding relationships, symbiosis, disease, and competition.

What are abiotic factors?

The geological, physical, and chemical features of the environment, including temperature, pH, and nutrient availability.

What is random sampling in ecological studies?

A method where each member of the population has an equal chance of being included, often using quadrats placed at random coordinates.

Describe systematic sampling.

A method that uses a transect to sample systematically along an environmental gradient.

What is a line transect?

A method of sampling where a straight line is placed between two points to record species distribution.

What is a belt transect?

Similar to a line transect but includes additional data on species abundance by placing a frame quadrat at regular intervals.

What is the purpose of mark-release-recapture?

To estimate the population size of mobile organisms.

What limitations exist for the mark-release-recapture method?

What limitations exist for the mark-release-recapture method?

How is Simpson's index of diversity (D) calculated?

The resulting value ranges from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (maximum diversity) and assesses species richness and evenness.

What does a low Simpson's index of diversity indicate?

It suggests few successful species and an unstable environment with simple food webs.

What does a high Simpson's index of diversity suggest?

It indicates a greater number of successful species and a more stable ecosystem with complex food webs.

What is Spearman's Rank Correlation used for?

To determine if there is a correlation between two sets of variables.

What is the null hypothesis in Spearman's Rank Correlation?

There is no correlation between the two variables being studied.

What is the significance of a positive Spearman's rank correlation coefficient?

It indicates a positive correlation between the two variables, suggesting that as one increases, so does the other.

What should be considered when planning a field experiment?

Ethical methods to protect the habitat and safe methods to identify and reduce hazards.