Marine Biology Test #1

What is the formula for cellular respiration?

C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}+O_{2}->H_{2}O+CO_{2} + ATP (Sugar + Oxygen -> Water + Carbon Dioxide + Cellular Energy)

What is the role of chlorophyll in marine organisms?

Chlorophyll is a pigment used to convert sunlight into energy. It appears green because it absorbs all light colors except for green, which it reflects.

How do light wavelengths affect marine algae in the ocean?

Long wavelengths (like red) have lower energy and are absorbed in shallow waters, while short wavelengths (like blue) have higher energy and penetrate to deeper depths. This is why different algae have different accessory pigments to absorb the light available at their depth.

What are the three main categories of multicellular seaweed and what are the main pigments found in each?

Green algae (Chlorophyta) have chlorophylls a and b. Brown algae (Phaeophyta) have fucoxanthin and chlorophylls a or c. Red algae (Rhodophyta) have phycobilians and chlorophylls a or d.

What are the characteristics of brown algae?

Brown algae (Phaephyta) have a brown accessory pigment called fucoxanthin. They are typically found in the shallow to middle range of the ocean and absorb blue and green light.

What are the characteristics of red algae?

Red algae (Rhodophyta) have a red accessory pigment called phycobilians. They can be found at all ocean depths because they absorb blue light, which penetrates the deepest.

How do marine plants differ from land plants in structure?

Marine plants lack vascular tissues, roots, stems, and leaves. They have holdfasts to anchor them, a stipe for a stem, and blades for leaves, as well as an air bladder to help them reach the sun.

Why are dinoflagellates important?

They are single-celled marine autotrophs that form the base of the ocean's food web. Most of the world's oxygen comes from these types of organisms. They have two tails (flagellates). They have no hard shell.

What are the three categories of marine phytoplankton?

Diatoms have shells made of silica (Si(2)O); they have geometric patterns and no tails. Dinoflagellates have a thick outer wall made of cellulose; they make most of the world’s oxygen. Coccolithophores have shells made of calcium carbonate (seashell material).

What is the purpose of a holdfast, stipe, and air bladders on marine algae?

A holdfast anchors the algae to the seafloor. The stipe is the stem-like structure. Air bladders help the algae float toward the sunlight.

What is the difference between a producer, a consumer, and a decomposer in a marine food chain?

A producer is an organism that creates its own food (like phytoplankton through photosynthesis). A consumer is an organism that eats other organisms for energy. A decomposer breaks down dead organisms and waste.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light (ROYGBIV), ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. Visible light is part of this spectrum, and its different colors are determined by their wavelengths and energy amount.

How do marine organisms get energy?

Marine organisms, like phytoplankton, use photosynthesis to convert sunlight into sugar (C_{6}H_{12}O_{6}). Their cells then use mitochondria to convert the sugar into usable cell energy called ATP.

What is a protist?

A protist is a single-celled or multicellular eukaryotic organism (meaning its cells have a nucleus) that does not fit into the categories of plants, animals, or fungi. Dinoflagellates, diatoms, and coccolithophores are all examples of protists.

What is a crest and a trough on a wave?

A crest is the highest point of a wave, while a trough is the lowest point. The distance between two consecutive crests or troughs is the wavelength.

What is ATP and why is it important for cells?

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the main source of cellular energy. It is produced during cellular respiration and powers all of a cell's activities.

How does the amount of energy in a wave relate to its wavelength?

Short waves have high energy, while long waves have low energy. This is why gamma rays have more energy than radio waves.

Why are diatoms and coccolithophores important producers of deep-sea sediment?

The shells of diatoms (made of silica) and coccolithophores (made of calcium carbonate) sink to the ocean floor after they die, forming siliceous ooze and calcareous ooze, respectively. These sediments are important indicators of past ocean conditions.