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142 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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what is primary production?
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the process by which organic matter is synthesized from inorganic matter
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how far does light penetrate in the ocean?
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a few hundred meters, but much lower if there is turbidity
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how is phosphorus recycled?
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rapdily to solution in liquid excretions of animals and during decay of dead organisms
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how is nitrogen recycled?
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slowly through several chemical forms and is often the limiting nutrient in the ocean
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why is silica important?
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it's a hard part for diatoms and radiolarians; recycled very slowly
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how are nutrients provided to the photic zone?
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rivers, recycling, upwelling
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order these compounds from fastest to slowest recycling time in the ocean: nitrogen, silica, phosphorus
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phosphorus, nitrogen, silica
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what is the conversion efficiency of food to biomass each trophic level?
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10%
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where does most upwelling occur?
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in coastal waters along western margins of continents (eastern boundary of ocean basins), around Antarctica, and across parts of the equitorial regions
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where is primary productivity the lowest?
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the center of subtropical gyres
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is oxygen saturated or unsaturated in surface waters? what about CO2?
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they're both saturated. oxygen can be supersaturated in parts of the photic zone where photosyntehsis exceeds respiration
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what happens to the bottom waters that have a long residence time and surface waters on top have very high primary productivity?
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deep waters become anoxic and many contain toxic hydrogen sulfide
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how do benthic organisms in the hadal, abyssal, and most of the bathyl and sublittoral zones obtain food?
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they depend on detritus that rains down, with the exception of isolated chemosynthetic communities
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in abundant productive photic zone waters, what is the concentration of phytoplnakton?
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1 billion individuals per liter
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are dinoflagellates or diatoms smaller?
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dinoflagellates
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whihc of the following organisms do not contain hard parts: diatoms, dinoflagellates, silicoflagellates, coccolithophores, or none of the above
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dinoflagellates
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give examples of holoplankton and meroplankton
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holoplankton- copepods, euphausiids (shrimp), many crustaceans, foraminifera, radiolarians, pteropods, jellyfish, ctenophores, and salps
meroplankton- eggs, larvae, and juvenilles |
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what is the most important use of organic molecules by organisms?
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to provide food & energy for the biochemical reations that control their growth, development, movement, feeding, and reproduction
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what is primary production?
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the process of coverting inorganic compounds into organic ones
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what are the two mechanisms by which autotrophs synthesize organic matter? compare them
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1. photosynthesis: uses CO2 and H2O + light energy to produce carbon sugers
2. chemosynthesis: uses energy from the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfate, metals from a reduced to an oxidized form, hydrogen to water, or methane to CO2and H2O |
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where is chemosynthesis most common?
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near hydrothermal vents on oceanic ridges, in ocean waters that are vented or seep from ocean sediment often present in subduction zones, surface sediments of salt marshes, at the interface btwn oxygenated surface waters and oxygen deficient bottom waters in fjords. in general, where oxygen is depleted
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what is secondary production?
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the production of animal biomass by plant eaters from their food
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why do heterotrophs use food inefficiently?
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they excrete part of their food as solid waste organic particles, called fecal pellets or as liquids
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whats the most important use of organic molecules?
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energy for growth, development,etc.
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about how many individual phytoplankton would u expect to find in a liter of seawater in a productive area?
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1 billion individuals
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where does chemosysntehsis occur?
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hydrothermal vents, surface sediments of salt marshes; in general, where oxygen is depleted
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at what depth is light intensity 1% of that of the surface (in clear waters)?
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100 m
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where does photosynthesis reach a maximum?
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at a depth of 1-2 m below the surface, instead of directly beneath the surface because UV light is absorbed => retards phytoplankton growth
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what is the compensation depth?
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where photosynthesis = respiration
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why do phytoplankton float?
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large air/gas bubbles, they're very small, and turbulence counteracts sinking
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in general, at what depth is photosynthesis the highest?
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1-2 m below sea level, instead of directly beneath the surface because UV light slows phytoplankton growth
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how do marine organisms obtain nutrients?
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by diffusion
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in what form in nitrogen released?
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ammonium ion
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how does nutrient resupply occur?
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by decomposition
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where are nutrient concentrations the highest?
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just below the thermocline
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about what percent of energy at each trophic level is used to produce biomass?
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10%
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what do blue whales, the largest mammal on earth, eat?
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krill
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what is the standing stock?
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phytoplankton biomass
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how is primary productivity measured in oceans w/ sattelites?
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chlorophyll concentration
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where is productivity highest?
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coastal waters, equatorial upwelling in E Pacific, and Antarctic divergence
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where is productivity the lowest?
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interior of subtropical gyres
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are surface waters undersaturated, saturated, or supersaturated w/ oxygen?
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supersaturated
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what contributes most of the oxygen to the atmosphere: marine algae or land plants?
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marine algae
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why doesn't a CO2 minimum occur at the surface?
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there's so much CO2?
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about what percent of the CO2 released since the industrial revolution has been incoroporated into the oceans?
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50%
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in general, at what depth is photosynthesis the highest?
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1-2 m below sea level, instead of directly beneath the surface because UV light slows phytoplankton growth
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how do marine organisms obtain nutrients?
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by diffusion
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in what form in nitrogen released?
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ammonium ion
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how does nutrient resupply occur?
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by decomposition
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where are nutrient concentrations the highest?
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just below the thermocline
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about what percent of energy at each trophic level is used to produce biomass?
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10%
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what do blue whales, the largest mammal on earth, eat?
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krill
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what is the standing stock?
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phytoplankton biomass
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how is primary productivity measured in oceans w/ sattelites?
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chlorophyll concentration
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where is productivity highest?
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coastal waters, equatorial upwelling in E Pacific, and Antarctic divergence
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where is productivity the lowest?
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interior of subtropical gyres
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are surface waters undersaturated, saturated, or supersaturated w/ oxygen?
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supersaturated
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what contributes most of the oxygen to the atmosphere: marine algae or land plants?
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marine algae
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why doesn't a CO2 minimum occur at the surface?
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there's so much CO2?
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about what percent of the CO2 released since the industrial revolution has been incoroporated into the oceans?
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50%
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in general, at what depth is photosynthesis the highest?
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1-2 m below sea level, instead of directly beneath the surface because UV light slows phytoplankton growth
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how do marine organisms obtain nutrients?
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by diffusion
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in what form in nitrogen released?
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ammonium ion
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how does nutrient resupply occur?
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by decomposition
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where are nutrient concentrations the highest?
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just below the thermocline
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about what percent of energy at each trophic level is used to produce biomass?
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10%
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what do blue whales, the largest mammal on earth, eat?
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krill
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what is the standing stock?
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phytoplankton biomass
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how is primary productivity measured in oceans w/ sattelites?
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chlorophyll concentration
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where is productivity highest?
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coastal waters, equatorial upwelling in E Pacific, and Antarctic divergence
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where is productivity the lowest?
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interior of subtropical gyres
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are surface waters undersaturated, saturated, or supersaturated w/ oxygen?
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supersaturated
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what contributes most of the oxygen to the atmosphere: marine algae or land plants?
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marine algae
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why doesn't a CO2 minimum occur at the surface?
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there's so much CO2?
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about what percent of the CO2 released since the industrial revolution has been incoroporated into the oceans?
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50%
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where does oxygen depletion occur?
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just below the thermocline, where residence time is long and bacterial oxidation occurs
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what are anthropogenic inputs? what do they do?
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inputs that are caused by humans and their activities; some may lead to phytoplankton bloom; others destroy populations
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how did oil and gas deposits form?
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detritus that fell was not decomposed by bacteria because of exteremly anoxic conditions => organic matter accumulated, producing gas and oil deposits
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what % of the organic carbon created by phytoplankton is released as dissolved substances?
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10%; 50% if conditions are right
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compounds have to be less than what size to be considered dissolved?
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.5 microns
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why does the decomposition of ALL organic matter take long?
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1. some compounds are highly resistant to oxidation
2. compounds are spread out => takes a long time to be found by bacteria 3. cold temps and high press slows oxidation |
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what is particulate organic matter?
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detritus
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what percent of organic carbon is particulate (detritus)? what % is dissolved? living?
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94.9%, 5%, and 0.1%, respectively
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is concentration of particulate organic matter higher at the surface or deep waters?
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at the surface
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dissolved particles are ____% organic
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25
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what percent of the benthic environment is covered by the hadal zone (in terms of area)?
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less than 1%
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what does the physical boundary between bathypelagic and abyssopelagic zones mark?
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the boundary between old and young water masses
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what acts as a barrier for the movement of marine species to different latitudes?
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temp differences
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phytoplankton make ____% of the food used by marine organisms
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99
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how big are macroplankton? microplankton? nannoplankton? picoplankton?
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macro- > 2 mm
micro- 2 mm - 20 microns nanno- 5-20 microns pico- 0.2-2 microns |
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order these from most abundant to least abundant: diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophores
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diatoms, dinoflagellates, coccolithophores
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what is the cell wall of dinoflagellates made of?
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cellulose
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in the open ocean, what organism is dominant: diatoms or dinoflagellates?
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dinoflagellates because of limited silica
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where do zooplankton collect?
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at the density interfaces of 2 water masses because nutrients are high
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give examples of holoplankton
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copepods and euphasiids
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where are radiolarians and foraminifera abundant?
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in warm waters
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what are gelatinous holoplankton?
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they have gelatinous bodies and are not part of the food chain that leads up to fishes and animals exploited by humans
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why don't many organisms eat gelatinous holoplankton?
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they provide little or no food
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what are cnidblasts?
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stinging cells
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what are ctenophores and salps?
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bioluminescent organisms w/ long trailing tentacles
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what animals have oily tissues and are of little nutritional value to humans, but are extensively hunted because of their commercial/industrial uses?
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pilchards, sardines, menhaden
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where are cod abundant?
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mid and high latitudes
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what is the difference between Demersal Fish and Pelagic Fish?
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Demersal Fish live on or near ocean bottom; Pelagic Fish live in the water column
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what are flatfish?
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organisms that have two eyes on opposite sides of body; eyes later migrate so that both eyes are on the same side; fish are called "flounder" if eye migrates to left; "sole" if to the right
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give examples of sharks that eat only plankton
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basking sharks and whale sharks
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what do nurse sharks feed on?
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benthic organisms and mollusks
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squids belong to what class?
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cephalopoda
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what do sperm whales eat?
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giant squid
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what is a nautilus shell made out of?
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CaCO3
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why have some cephalopods discarded shells?
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for greater swimming speed
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True or False: All cephalopods are believed to have had shells at one time
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True
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what are some characteristics of marine mammals?
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warm blooded and air breathing; bear live young like terrestrial mammals; four chambered heart, biconcave red blood cells; powerful tails; milk w/ high protein content to nurture young
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what do baleen whales feed on?
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small crustaceans
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describe hunting and feeding behavior of the killer whale
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hunt and eat fish, seals, sea lions, and other whales; often hunt in packs
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what organisms are included in order Sirenia?
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sea cow, manatees, dugong
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True or False: Sirenians are omnivores
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False; herbivores
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what organisms are considered to be the source of the mermaid legend and the sirens?
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Sea Cows
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what organisms are included in order pinnipeda?
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seals, sea lions, walrus
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what is the largest pinniped?
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the Elephant Seal
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what do pinnipeds eat?
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fish, clams, and shellfish
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what do nurse sharks feed on?
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benthic organisms and mollusks
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squids belong to what class?
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cephalopoda
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what do sperm whales eat?
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giant squid
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what is a nautilus shell made out of?
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CaCO3
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why have some cephalopods discarded shells?
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for greater swimming speed
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True or False: All cephalopods are believed to have had shells at one time
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True
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what are some characteristics of marine mammals?
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warm blooded and air breathing; bear live young like terrestrial mammals; four chambered heart, biconcave red blood cells; powerful tails; milk w/ high protein content to nurture young
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what do baleen whales feed on?
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small crustaceans
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describe hunting and feeding behavior of the killer whale
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hunt and eat fish, seals, sea lions, and other whales; often hunt in packs
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what organisms are included in order Sirenia?
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sea cow, manatees, dugong
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True or False: Sirenians are omnivores
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False; herbivores
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what organisms are considered to be the source of the mermaid legend and the sirens?
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Sea Cows
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what organisms are included in order pinnipeda?
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seals, sea lions, walrus
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what is the largest pinniped?
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the Elephant Seal
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what do pinnipeds eat?
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fish, clams, and shellfish
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what is a sea otter?
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a shellfish eating mammal that lacks blubber
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True or False: a large number of reptiles live in the ocean
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False
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what do green turtles eat? hawksbill? leatherback? loggerhead?
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green- seagrasses
hawksbill- mostly sponges leatherback- only jellyfish loggerhead- sponges, crabs, mollusks |
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what is the difference between crocodiles and alligators?
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crocodiles live in seawater; alligators live in freshwater
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what is the only marine species of lizard that lives on the land and ocean?
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Galapagos Marine Iguana
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in ctenophores and salps, how are food particles removed?
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by a mucous layer
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True or False: Sharks and rays are more primitive and other fishes because they have remained essentially unchanged for millions of years
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True
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