Term
| Define primary production. |
|
Definition
| The total amount of organic carbon produced by photosynthesis per unit. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Describe how the process of photosynthesis converts sunlight into food. |
|
Definition
| The light energy adds to the water & CO2 to produce sugar & O2. |
|
|
Term
| How is photosynthesis different from the process of respiration? |
|
Definition
| In photosynthesis, light energy is being received. In respiration, heat energy is being released. |
|
|
Term
| What are the 2 limiting factors for primary production? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are the major nutrients (elemental compounds) that phytoplankton use? |
|
Definition
| Nitrate, phosphorous, iron, and silica. |
|
|
Term
| Where are nutrients concentrated in the oceans? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How does the location of nutrients in the oceans relate to upwelling, in terms of primary productivity? |
|
Definition
| When upwelling occurs, the nutrients are brought to the surface. Therefore, primary productivity increases. |
|
|
Term
| How does the location of nutrients in the oceans relate to the development of a thermocline, in terms of primary productivity? |
|
Definition
| When there is a thermocline, the deeper, nutrient-rich waters are unable to mix with the surface water. Therefore, the nutrients at the surface become depleted, and primary productivity decreases. |
|
|
Term
| What do phytoplankton need to live? So, where are they found? |
|
Definition
| Sunlight; at the ocean's surface. |
|
|
Term
| Where do zooplankton live and why? |
|
Definition
| At the ocean's surface, because they eat the phytoplankton that live there. |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between autotrophs (producers), heterotrophs (consumers), and decomposers (bacteria)? |
|
Definition
| Producers create their own food through photosynthesis. Consumers eat the producers. Decomposers break down the nutrients. |
|
|
Term
| How do the pathways for matter and energy differ in an ecosystem? |
|
Definition
| As matter increases, energy increases. |
|
|
Term
| What role does the Sun play in the pathway of energy? |
|
Definition
| It is the foundation of all energy. |
|
|
Term
| What critical role do bacteria play in the recycling of matter through an ecosystem? |
|
Definition
| When phytoplankton and zooplankton at the surface die, waste is released, which sinks. The bacteria decomposes it, (as well as dead bodies which sink to the floor), and the dissolved nutrients are released back into the water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| It is not a linear food chain, but multiple animals have multiple food sources. |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis? |
|
Definition
| Diffusion is the movement of particles from high concentration to low concentration, but Osmosis is the movement of WATER from high concentration to low concentration. |
|
|
Term
| How does osmosis relate to fish living in salt water vs. living in fresh water? |
|
Definition
| Fish living in salt water experience a flow of water out of the fish, and therefore have to drink constantly. Fish living is fresh water experience water flowing into their bodies, and therefore never have to drink. |
|
|
Term
| Describe some ways in which marine organisms can remain at a certain depth? |
|
Definition
| Increasing their surface area by growing appendages, swim bladders, gas chambers, and simply by swimming. |
|
|
Term
| How do sharks keep from sinking? |
|
Definition
| Shark fins provide lift like an airplane's wings. |
|
|
Term
| What does the shape of a fish's tailfin indicate about their swimming ability? |
|
Definition
| The bigger, rounder tail fins enable the fish to maneuver easily, but they tire faster. The smaller fins enable fish to swim over longer periods of time, but they lose maneuverability. |
|
|
Term
| What advantages does swimming in schools have for fish? |
|
Definition
| It gives the illusion that they are one big fish, and it also makes it difficult for predators to pick off one fish. |
|
|
Term
| How do baleen and echolocation help whales and dolphins survive? |
|
Definition
Baleen = hairs in whales' mouths which enable them to eat a lot of plankton at once.
Echolocation = sound waves that help dolphins find prey. (and predators!) |
|
|
Term
| What adaptations favor the survival of deep-water fish? |
|
Definition
| Bioluminescence, sharp teeth, large and flexible jaws, keen sense of smell, slow metabolism. |
|
|
Term
| Why are there so few marine species compared to terrestrial (land) species? |
|
Definition
| The ocean can only support limited ecosystems because there isn't much variation in the habitats. |
|
|
Term
| What is the difference between plankton, nekton, and benthos organisms? |
|
Definition
| Plankton are surface dwelling organisms that drift. Nekton are mid-level organisms that swim. Benthos are bottom-dwelling organisms. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal which makes its own food. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An organism that relies on a food source. (Unable to make its own food). |
|
|
Term
| How does water temperature affect water viscosity (thickness)? |
|
Definition
| The colder it is, the more viscous it is. |
|
|
Term
| What is the euphotic zone and why is it teeming with life compared to deeper zones? |
|
Definition
| The euphotic zone is the depth of the ocean that is well-lit by sunlight. (Surface down, as far as light reaches). It is teeming with life because the sunlight provides potential for photosynthesis, which plankton use, and other animals eat the plankton, so many organisms live there. |
|
|
Term
| What are the advantages and disadvantages for benthic animals living near the coastline? |
|
Definition
An advantage = nutrients come from the land (and they are richest there), and greater diversity of animals near the coast.
A disadvantage = benthic animals have to adapt to the pounding of the waves, and can dry up if they are in the intertidal zone during low tide. |
|
|
Term
| What controls the changes in nutrient and oxygen levels with depth? |
|
Definition
| Phytoplankton, animals which use up oxygen, decomposition also uses up oxygen but releases nutrients, upwelling and downwelling can move oxygen and nutrients. |
|
|
Term
| What unique problems do animals face living in a rocky intertidal zone? |
|
Definition
| Waves, drying up, and land predators. |
|
|
Term
| Why do most animals found on sandy shores live buried under the sand? |
|
Definition
| To protect themselves from waves and land predators. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The animals that make up coral. |
|
|
Term
| What environmental conditions do corals prefer? |
|
Definition
| Warm seawater, sunlight, clear seawater, normal salinity, hard substrate. |
|
|
Term
| What are zooxanthellae and what is its relationship with corals? |
|
Definition
| They are one-celled algae with a symbiotic relationship with corals. (Meaning that they each provide something to each other - algae provides food and carbon dioxide to the corals, and the corals provide carbon dioxide, nutrients, and a home for the algae.) |
|
|
Term
| What's the definition of fringing, barrier, and atoll reefs? |
|
Definition
Fringing reef = a reef that is directly attached to a shore or borders it with a shallow channel or lagoon.
Barrier reef = a reef separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep lagoon.
Atoll = a more or less circular barrier reef extending all the way around a lagoon without a central island. |
|
|
Term
| How are fringing, barrier, and atoll reefs related in the way they are formed and to plate tectonics? |
|
Definition
| After a volcanic island becomes extinct, it subsides with the ocean floor. Coral growth builds a fringing reef, often including a shallow lagoon between the land and the main reef. As the subsidence continues, the fringing reef becomes a larger barrier reef further from the shore with a bigger and deeper lagoon inside. Ultimately the island sinks below the sea, and the barrier reef becomes an atoll enclosing an open lagoon. |
|
|
Term
| Since there is no light shining on the hydrothermal vent communities, what process takes the place of photosynthesis? |
|
Definition
| Chemosynthesis. In this process, the hydrothermal vents spew out super-heated water with dissolved metals and minerals from the Earth's core. The bacteria break down the hydrogen sulfide that is dissolved in this super-hot water and converts it into sugars, which the animals can eat. |
|
|
Term
| What is the primary food source for deep-ocean floor animals, and why does this food source not decompose quickly? |
|
Definition
| Dead animals (usually large ones, like whales, etc.) The meat does not decompose quickly because of the extreme pressure and cold. |
|
|
