Fluid Environment Flashcards
pelagic
open water
benthic
on the bottom
neritic
near to shore
oceanic
out in the open water
photic
where light reaches
aphotic
dark
how are regions classified?
by physical parameters
- light
- oxygen
- temp
eurythermal
wide temp tolerances
- some plankton and mammals
stenothermal
narrow temp tolerances
- benthic animals like corals, sponges and clams
homeotherm
regulates body temp
- mammals
poikilotherm
conforms to temp
- all marine invertebrates
- most fishes
what is an example of a homeotherm?
sea otter
what is an example of a poikilotherm
feather duster worm
how does oxygen vary with depth?
- on the surface there is high O2
- low in mesopelagic
- high O2 in deep ocean
why does deep ocean have high oxygen levels?
decomposition of dead phyotplankton and marine snow
why does the surface water have high oxygen?
mixing
which ocean has minimum oxygen?
pacific
why does the Atlantic Ocean not have minimal oxygen?
the global conveyor belt causes the warm water to move toward the Artic and oxygen is brought down when cooled through Atlantic
how much light penetrates in coastal waters?
10s of a m
- more life and more turbidity
how much light penetrates in open ocean waters or tropics?
100m+ as there is less chaos
is seawater viscous?
yes