Marine Biology - Lectures 1 - 3

Scientifically, how many oceans are there on Earth?

1

What is the largest ocean basin?

Pacific Ocean

The term "Southern Ocean" is used to describe the body of water surrounding which continent?

Antarctica

The world ocean covers how much of Earth's surface area in each hemisphere?

61% N
81% S

What is the distinction between marine biology and oceanography?

Marine biologists study the organisms while Oceanographers study the physical aspects of the ocean.

What aquatic environment/s does marine biology study?

Saltwater environments

What is the estimated annual economic value of ocean's living systems?

$20 trillion +

How much breathable oxygen is produced by marine organisms?

50 - 80%

How is marine biology relevant to applications in food production?

Providing diversity and sustainability

How is marine biology relevant to applications in transportation?

People use the ocean for transportation

How is marine biology relevant to applications in medicine?

Some marine organisms are used to make medicine

How is marine biology relevant to applications in recreation?

People use the ocean for recreational activities

How is marine biology relevant to applications in tourism?

People go to oceans for vacations

How is marine biology relevant to applications of studying early life?

The ocean is the origin of life on Earth

How is marine biology relevant to applications in climate science?

The ocean impacts our climate on Earth by providing oxygen by capturing CO2

What tool was invented during World War II and was adapted to scientific investigation after the war ended?

Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR)

What tool was greatly advanced by Jacques Cousteau and enables scientists to remain underwater for long periods of time to observe organisms and collect data?

SCUBA

The JOIDES Resolution, Chikyu, and E/V Nautilus are examples of what?

?????

Woods Hole, Scripps, and Friday Harbor are examples of what?

Research stations

What tool allows scientists to approach greater depths, hard to reach areas, or dangerous areas to manipulate terrain, collect samples, and record data as directed by a person at the controls?

ROV’s

What tool is an released into the ocean to move independently along a predetermined course to automatically collect samples before being met and collected by the research crew?

AUV’s

What are pieces of physical evidence that the orientation of the continents relative to the ocean have changed over time?

PANGEA
Sedimentary rock and fossil “belts”
Zone of igneous and metamorphic rocks with similar composition on different continents

Define/describe continental drift.

Continents are wandering around Earth relative to poles.

How do iron-bearing minerals support the theory of continental drift?

They are spread over different continents, meaning those continents were together at some point

Define/Describe the theory of plate tectonics.

Earth is made up of several tectonic plates. These plates move on the asthenosphere and create mountains, trenches, and cliffs based on their make up. These also cause earthquakes

What causes the plates of the Earth’s crust to move?

Slab pull and mantle convection

What are characteristics of the rock that makes up oceanic crust?

Oceanic crust is made up of Basalt

Its denser, thinner, and heavier than continental crust.

What are characteristics of the rock that makes up continental crust?

It is made up of Granite.
It is less dense, thicker, and lighter than oceanic crust.

Oceanic crust vs. continental crust CONVERGENCE

Oceanic crust will sink due to it being denser than continental crust.

Oceanic crust vs. oceanic crust CONVERGENCE

The denser plate will subduct beneath the other, forming a trench

Continental crust vs. continental crust CONVERGENCE

Mountains are formed because neither plate is dense enough to subduct

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

Convergent, Divergent, and Transform/shear

What types of marine geologic formations/habitats are formed at convergent boundaries?

Mountain ranges, Volcanoes Trenches

What types of marine geologic formations/habitats are formed at divergent boundaries?

Rift valleys, Hydrothermal Vents

What types of marine geologic formations/habitats are formed at transform boundaries?

Earthquakes

What is sea floor spread? What plate boundary is it caused by? Are rates of sea floor spread equal?

Sea floor spread is due to 2 plates moving away from each other caused by a divergent boundary. Rates are NOT equal

What is an island arc? How is it formed geologically?

An island arc is a chain of volcanoes formed by plants moving over a mantle hot spot.

What is a seamount?

Mountain not tall enough to be an island

What is a guyot?

A seamount with a flat top caused by undersea volcanoes

Why does the Pacific Ocean have the Ring of Fire?

The ring of fire is caused by the amount of movement of tectonic plates in the area.

Why is the Texas coastline so different from the California coastline?

California has an active continental margin which leads to rugged mountains whereas Texas is flat

What are the two common methods of osmoregulation in marine organisms?

Osmoconforming and Osmoregulating

What is the difference between stenohaline and euryhaline organisms?

Stenohaline only tolerate narrow salinity range
Euryhaline can tolerate a wider one

How does solar radiation on the Earth’s surface influence ocean temperature at different latitudes?

The sun’s position causes some latitudes to have warmer temps

What is thermal stratification?

Layering of water

How is thermal stratification related to density? How is this further related to salinity?

Stratification results from density differences.
Salinity increases density

What is a thermocline? How does the depth of thermocline vary with latitude?

A rapid change in temperature over space.
Temps vary across latitudes, changing the depth of thermoclines in some regions

What dissolved gases are critical for ocean life?

Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen

How is dissolved gas concentration related to water temperature?

As temp increases, concentration of gases decrease

Where is marine oxygen production the highest?

Around the coasts and in the north

Why is surface-to-volume ratio important in marine organism morphology?

Surface to volume ratio determines how quickly an organism can exchange solutes, gases, and heat.