Quiz 2

aquatic microbes

tiny single celled organisms, make up more than 98% of the oceans biomass

microbe energy sources

auto and heterotrophs, pathogens, decomposers, chemo and photosynthesizers

biogeochemical processes

microbes help incorporate several nutrients into the food web

symbiotic relationships

microbes help other species survive

base of food chain

microbes capture energy in a variety of different ways

studying aquatic microbes

sediment collection, cores, water sampling, DNA analysis, growing them in labs, plankton tows, sediment collection

Plankton

drifting organisms, microscopic, float with the current, phyto and zooplankton

holoplankton

plankton that stay plankton for their whole lives

meroplankton

only plankton for short periods of their lives

phytoplankton size

all microscopic, high SA/V ratio, get rid of waste easily, don’t require as many nutrients

phytoplankton adaptations

sinking, bioluminescence

sinking adaptation

thick cell walls cause them to sink in water, no crowding on the waters surface, horns, wings, tails, and other projections cause them to sink at different rates, some fill themselves with oil/gas to sink slowly

bioluminescence adaptation

glow at night, common phytoplankton are noctiluca and ceratium, contain luciferin

other plankton adaptations

adjust easily to changes in the environment, horns, spikes, and toxins prevent being eaten, flagellas allow for movement, dormancy (hibernating when there’s low sunlight)

harmful algal blooms

small percentage of plankton produce toxins that kill fish, mammals, and birds; negative effects on fishing industry, shoreline, pollution, and human health; (ex. red tide means dinoflagellates)

Primary productivity

amount of energy produces make from the sun in a given area, measured by looking at chlorophyll levels

gross primary productivity

amount of solar energy that producers in an ecosystem capture via photosynthesis over a certain time

net primary productivity

energy captured-energy respired by producers (NPP=GPP-respiration)

factors that affect primary productivity

light, nutrient availability, consumers, marine plants, aquatic algae

light

needed for photosynthesis; varies with depth, turbidity, and sun angle; more light means more productivity; too much UV can kill producers

Nutrient availability

water and CO2 are needed for photosynthesis; other nutrients needed for growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc

consumers

too many consumers eating producers decreases productivity, zooplankton increase= phytoplankton decrease

marine plants

large, multicellular, need sunlight, live in photic zones (near surface)

aquatic algae

multi and unicellular; divisions based on color: chlorophyta and charophyta (green), phaeophyta (brown), rhodophyta(red)

photosynthetic pigments

chlorophyll, xanthophyll, phycobilins

chlorophyll

green, traps sun energy for photosynthesis; in all seaweed types; dominant in green algae

xanthophyll

gold in color; green and gold results in greenish brown, present in all brown algae; kelp

phycobilins

red and blue; common in red algae, pink-deep purple

blade

leaflike structures in aquatic plants; where photosynthesis occurs, some have gas bladders that keep them afloat (sargassum)

stipe

seaweed stem; very flexible (so waves can’t break it), transport nutrients through hollow tubes

holdfast

resemble roots; attaches seaweed to ground/other plants, keep plant in place during waves

vertebrate features

hollow nerve cord surrounded by a backbone; specialized sense organs and a brain; controlled muscle movements

evolution

two theories: evolved from filter feeding organisms with cartilage instead of bone; land to sea, vertebrate land species evolved to live in the sea

fish

live and grow in the water; swim w fins (ecotherms (cold blooded, not all), breathe with gills, 3 classes

agnatha

class of fish, “jawless fishes”, lack paired fins, biting jaws, and skin scales; thick snakelike body with gill slits; sucking disk for mouth; less than 50 species; very primitive (may be oldest fish relative)

lamprey

anadromous (live in salt and fresh water); have paired fins; sucking instead of jaws; parasitic as adults

chondrichthyes

class of fish; “cartilaginous fishes” cartilage instead of bones; paired fins; biting jaws with teeth; sharks and rays (50% freshwater); 280 million years old

osteichthyes

class of fish; “the bony fishes”, 27000 species; have internal skeletons; swim bladders for buoyancy; fresh and saltwater; paired fins supported by rays (spikes in fins)

operculum

protective; bony plating covering the gills

lateral line

line running alongside of the fish; sensory organ

barbels

whiskers used as sensory organs

dorsal fin

1-3 fins on the back of the fish used for balance

caudal fins

tail fin used for power and balance

pectoral fin

on side for power

pelvic fin

fins on the belly used for direction and up and down movement

anal fin

on the belly towards the tail, between pelvic and caudal; used for balance and direction

adipose fin

small fin between dorsal and caudal fin; absent in many fish (may be sensory)

placoid scales (sharks and rays)

flattened base with spine protruding towards the rear

ganoid scales (gars, sturgeon, and paddlefish)

flat, no overlap

cycloid and ctenoid scales (most bony fish)

overlap, more flexibility; form growth rings like trees that can determine age

digestion

esophagus, intestine, stomach for passing, absorbing, and breaking down food

liver and pancreas

produce enzymes

gills

made of feathery threads w capillaries for gas exchange; water w o2 goes to mouth, water is pushed through gills, o2 is trapped in gills, 02 gets to blood by capillaries

circulation

heart pumps blood in a loop (heart to gills, gills to body, body to heart); 2 chambers, 1 atria and one ventricle

nervous system

brain, olfactory bulbs, well developed eyes (color vision), internal ears (detect vibrations and movement of water)

musculoskeleton

contract and relax muscles on either side of the backbone

swim bladder

gas filled balloon in abdomen; regulates buoyancy (fish can expel/swallow air by mouth); gas gland bubbles get in and out of bloodstream

reproduction

mostly external