In Depth Notes on Marine Ecosystems

Symbiosis: Interaction between two different species living close together.
- Parasitism: One organism (parasite) benefits at the expense of another (host).
- Commensalism: One organism benefits while the other is unaffected.
- Mutualism: Both organisms benefit.
Predation: The act of predators eating prey.
Competition: Interaction where two species compete for the same resources.

Copepods: Shrimp-like crustaceans (e.g., sea lice) that act as ectoparasites.
- Feed on mucus, tissues, and blood of marine fish.
- High infestations can lead to fish mortality, especially in weak fish or those with gill attachment.
- Lesser infestations can impede growth and make fish vulnerable to diseases.

Manta Rays and Remora Fish:
- Remora fish have an adhesive dorsal fin to cling to manta rays.
- This behavior saves energy for the remora (phoresis).
- Can be mutualistic if remora feed on parasites found on manta rays.

Boxer Crabs and Anemones:
- Boxer crabs use anemones for defense in exchange for food access.
- Anemones use tentacles to collect food near the crab's blind spots.
- Crabs often hold two cloned anemones (one in each claw) and may steal them from others, sometimes feeding them like pets.

Producers: Autotrophs synthesizing their own food (e.g., phototrophs, chemotrophs).
Consumers: Heterotrophs relying on others for food.
- Herbivores: Feed on plants.
- Carnivores: Feed on animals.
- Omnivores: Feed on both plants and animals.
Decomposers: Break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment.
Food Chain: A diagram illustrating feeding relationships.
Food Web: A complex interconnection of multiple food chains.
Trophic Levels: Position of an organism in a food web/chain.
Apex Predator: The top predator without natural enemies.

Photosynthesis: Light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
- Occurs in the photic zone by photoautotrophs (e.g., phytoplankton, kelp).
Chemosynthesis: Energy from inorganic chemical reactions produces organic material, typically in extreme environments (e.g., hydrothermal vents).
- Chemoautotrophic bacteria engage in symbiosis with marine species like mussels.

Pyramid of Numbers: Displays organisms per trophic level but may not be scaled.
Pyramid of Biomass: Shows biomass distribution at each level, potentially inverted.
Pyramid of Energy: Illustrates energy flow and is never inverted, showing energy production rates.

Nutrients: Substances required by organisms for growth and metabolism.
Primary producers assimilate nutrients, which flow through the food chain to decomposers, and eventually return nutrients to the ecosystem.

Include gases (CO2), ions ( ext{-}, ext{CO}3^{2-}, ext{PO}4^{3-}, ext{NO}_3^{-}), and organic compounds (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins).

Upwelling: Nutrients from deeper waters nurture primary productivity.
Run-off: Water dissolves nutrients as it flows into the ocean.
Tectonic Activity: Hydrothermal vents release nutrients from the mantle.
Dissolving Atmospheric Gases: Nitrogen and oxygen can dissolve in ocean water influenced by temperature and concentration.
Excretion/Decomposition: Removal of waste and breakdown by decomposers return nutrients to the ecosystem.

Human harvesting of marine species extracts nutrients from ecosystems. Excessive removal leads to nutrient costs in aquatic environments, impacting productivity.

Flow: Atmospheric CO2 dissolves into the ocean, utilized by photoautotrophs. Respiration releases CO2 back into the environment. After death, decomposers revert organic carbon back into dissolved form. Dead organic matter eventually becomes fossil fuels or sedimentary rocks. Fossil fuel combustion releases CO2 back into the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.