Marine science

What is primary succession?

Primary succession is when life starts from scratch in places like bare rock after a volcanic eruption, where no soil exists at first.

Where does primary succession occur?

Primary succession occurs on bare surfaces like new islands or land left by receding glaciers.

What are pioneer species?

Pioneer species are the first species to grow in newly formed environments, such as lichens and mosses.

What is secondary succession?

Secondary succession happens in areas with soil after a disturbance like a fire or an abandoned field and is faster than primary succession.

Which type of succession typically has more biodiversity?

Secondary succession generally has more biodiversity faster than primary succession because the soil supports more species.

What do migration maps show?

Migration maps show how animals move seasonally or in response to environmental changes.

Why do animals migrate?

Animals migrate to find food, better temperatures, or suitable breeding grounds.

How do seasonal changes affect organisms?

Seasonal changes alter temperature and food availability, impacting organisms' living conditions and reproduction.

What is an open system?

An open system exchanges both energy and matter with its surroundings, like Earth.

What does the law of conservation of energy state?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it only changes form.

What are the properties of light?

Light properties include absorption, reflection, refraction, and diffraction.

What is a transverse wave?

A transverse wave is one where particles move up and down, such as light waves.

What causes tides?

Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on Earth’s oceans.

What is a spring tide?

A spring tide occurs during new and full moons when Earth, the moon, and the sun are aligned, causing extreme tidal changes.

What distinguishes a diurnal tide from a semidiurnal tide?

A diurnal tide has one high tide and one low tide each day, while a semidiurnal tide has two high tides and two low tides each day.

What is an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

An abiotic factor refers to non-living components, such as temperature or water depth, that affect ecosystems.

What is thermohaline circulation?

Thermohaline circulation refers to ocean currents driven by temperature and salinity differences that move water globally.

What factors affect the abundance of organisms in coastal systems?

Coastal factors like water temperature, wave action, and salinity significantly influence organism abundance.

What adaptations do coastal organisms have to survive harsh conditions?

Coastal organisms may have adaptations such as tough shells, the ability to hold water during exposure, and attachment to rocks.

What are the three zones of the rocky shore?

The three zones are supralittoral (high tide zone), intertidal (between high and low tide), and sublittoral (always submerged).

What is an independent variable in an experiment?

The independent variable is what the experimenter changes during the experiment.

What is a dependent variable in an experiment?

The dependent variable is what the experimenter measures as a result of the changes made during the experiment.

What is a control in an experiment?

The control is the element that remains unchanged throughout the experiment for comparison.