Benthos Flashcards
Macro algae colours
Brown, red and green
Examples of vascular plants
Mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass
Roots, shoots and flowers
Where does eelgrass grow
In temperate water
Where does turtle grass grow
In tropical waters
What is a rhizome system and how does this benefit seagrass meadows
Plant stems send out roots and shoots from its plant nodules. Reduce turbulence. Traps fine sediment. Shoots obtain CO2 from the water column. Expands the beds.
Which 2 factors do seagrass meadows require for growth
High light.
Moderate current.
Describe the food web in a seagrass meadow
Seagrass feed detritus —>
Detritus feeds primary consumers (small and large herbivores) —>
Primary consumers feed carnivores
Describe the physical features of kelp
Pneumatocysts.
Fronds/blades.
Stipe.
Holdfast.
Why is it advantageous for kelp to be flexible
Because they’re less likely to be damaged by strong ocean currents
The 3 zonations in a kelp forest
Canopy.
Understory.
Algal turf.
What conditions do kelp forests grow in
Exposed locations.
At great depths.
What regions do kelp forests grow in and why
Temperate and sub polar regions.
Cold upwelling regions, very nutrient rich water.
What factors will reduce coastal upwelling
Decelerated wind speed.
Elevated sea level.
What is the Coriolis effect
Causes surface water to be deflected to the right in the N hemisphere and to the left in the S hemisphere
List some of the consequences caused by El Niño
Droughts. Floods. High surf areas. Crashes of fisheries. Seal and marine iguana deaths. Sea lion deaths.
What effect does a thicker upper-ocean layer have on the American coast
It stops nutrient rich water from upwelling
How does southern oscillation alter jet streams
Increased ocean heat into the atmosphere increases cloud formation — which alters the jet stream and increases precipitation
Factors that decline the kelp population
Reduced upwelling
Higher temperatures - increases mortality
Severe storms - increases kelp bed erosion
Effects of La Niña
Trade winds increase.
South equatorial current speeds up.
Upwelling of cool water and nutrients increases.
Surface water off of Peru and California cools down.
How do diploid sporophytes reproduce
Release spores which settle onto the sea floor.
Sperm from male gametophyte fertilises eggs from female gametophyte.
Produces a diploid sporophyte.
