Deep Sea Ecology and Ocean Floor Mapping: Key Concepts for Biology and Marine Science

Why are deep sea creatures red?

Red light scatters in the deep sea, which makes red animals look camouflaged.

Define plankton, nekton, and benthos

Plankton-organisms carried by tides and currents (bacteria+zooplankton)

Nekton-can swim independently (fish+turtles)

Benthos-live on, in, or near the bottom of the ocean (starfish+coral)

Where is the Marina Trench located and why is it important?

The North Pacific Ocean and it is home to lots of deep sea creatures.

How do we investigate the ocean depths?

We use bathymetric mapping to show the depths of the ocean at certain points.

Which submersible imploded that we discussed? What was its mission?

It was called the Titan and its mission was to visit the Titanic.

What is the difference between a continental shelf and a continental slope?

Shelf-a gradual sloping end of a continent that extends under the ocean

Slope-It is at the end of the continental shelf

Define and give an example of pruducers, consumers, autotrophs, and heterotrophs

Producers- bacteria

Consumers-

Autotrophs-

Heterotrophs-

What are seamounts and guyots and where can we find them in the US?

Seamounts-underwater volcanic that rise more than 100m above ocean floor.

Guyots-flat top seamounts

List and describe 2 ways that the ocean floor can be mapped?

SONAR and satellites

What part of the microscope should you never move on high power? Why?

The coarse adjustment knob, it could make the lense come into contact with the slide and scratch it.

How much energy gets transferred to the next level on an energy pyramid?

10 percent because the rest of the energy is released as heat energy.

What types or organisms carry out photosynthesis? and what kind do chemosynthesis?

Photosynthesis-plants and algae

Chemosynthesis- bacteria

Where can these organisms for photosynthesis and chemosynthesis be found?

Photosynthesis- anywhere with sunlight, water, and oxygen

Chemosynthesis- found in hydrothermal vents

What are the components required for photosynthesis? What ones are required for chemosynthesis?

Photosynthesis- sunlight, water, and oxygen

Chemosynthesis- hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, and carbon dioxide

What is biomagnification? Can we see it in the ocean?

The increase of toxins in an animal due to how high up in the food chain the are. Yes we can see it in the ocean

Give an example of biomagnification

Insects - insect eating fish - fish eating fish - humans.