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Marine ecology and physiology > L1 Abiotic factors > Flashcards

L1 Abiotic factors Flashcards

1
Q

What is a measure of biomass and productivity in the ocean?

A

Chlorophyll a

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2
Q

Where are areas of more and less chlorophyll?

A

Hotspots - coastal areas

Coldspots - Mid ocean

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3
Q

What are the vertical ocean regions called?

A

Littoral - tidal zone
Neritic - above continental shelf
Oceanic - above continental slope and abyss

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4
Q

what are the horizontal regions of the ocean called?

A

Epipelagic - surface waters
Pelagic - open ocean
Benthic - sea floor

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5
Q

What is the best solvent?

A

Water

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6
Q

What causes salinity?

A

River run off, volcanic activity
weathering of rocks - + ions
precipitation and hydrothermal vents - ions

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7
Q

what is the ocean average salinity?

A

35%, varies btw 31-39%

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8
Q

What instrument measures salinity?

A

Refractometer

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9
Q

which area of oceans have the highest salinity and why?

A

when SW freezes, ions are excluded, so icebergs are almost pure and liquid water is saltier. In summer evens out slightly.
Also partially enclosed seas have high salinity, eg Red Sea

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10
Q

which 4 ions are most abundant

A

Cl- 19.3%
Na+ 10.75%
SO4 2- 2.7%
Mg2+ 1.29%

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11
Q

What unit is salinity measured in?

A

PSU - Practical salinity unit

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12
Q

what are 3 important nutrients in the ocean?

A

Nitrate, Silicate and Phosphate

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13
Q

What is a CTD meter?

A

Measures Conductivity, temp and density

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14
Q

what can be used to trace a body of water?

A

SO6 -marker

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15
Q

How much do day/night temperatures vary by?

A

<1 degree C

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16
Q

What percentage of dissolved gas in the ocean is CO2 and O2?

A

80% CO2 (compared to 0.04% in air)

0-8ml/l of O2 compared to 210 in air.

17
Q

does cold or hot water have more O2 dissolved?

A

Cold

18
Q

2 ways to measure light penetration

A

Secchi disc

submersible photocells

19
Q

What is oxygen minima?

A

regions of the ocean with less available O2 than is needed for life

20
Q

What causes turbidity?

A

Phytoplankton and mineral particles

21
Q

name of zones with enough light for photosynthesis, enough light to see, not enough light to see

A

Photic/Euphotic
Disphotic/Dysphotic
Aphotic

22
Q

how is UV light cut out?

A

Salts absorbing it

Not absorbed in FW lakes or shallow SW

23
Q

at What depth is there most thermocline?

A

Intermediate depth, 200-1000m

Temp drops and Density increases

24
Q

When does salinity vary and when is it constant?

A

Varies in intermediate layers 200-1000m

Stays constant after 1000, as layers mix.

25
Q

Why do nutrients run out in summer?

How are they replaced?

A

Surface layers heat up, creating many small layers which dont mix, so nutrients cant be replenished from below.
In autumn, surface cools and there is downwelling of nutrient low water, displaces deep rich water which rises. Over winter, waters mix and nutrients are replenished.

26
Q

Where does the Coriolis effect deflect currents to?

A

currents and winds deflected to the right in N hemisphere

To the L in southern hemisphere.

27
Q

How does the antarctic conveyor belt work?

A

Cold water at poles sinks and gets more dense. Movement of this deep cold water across globe.

28
Q

What is a gyre?

A

Major circular surface currents in indian, pacific and Atlantic oceans. Very low productivity in the centre.

29
Q

Descibe Ekman spiral

A

net movement of water is at 90 degrees to direction of wind. each layer moves in a slightly different direction

30
Q

What is ENSO?

A

El nino southern oscillation
Years of abnormal weather patterns
Increased SST with less/no upwelling
reduced primary productivity

31
Q

What causes SST to rise?

A

High atmospheric pressure = less offshore winds = thermocline tilts less = no upwellings = higher SST

32
Q

example of El nino in Peruvian fisheries

A

Coastal upwelling usually supports lucrative fisheries.
Run of low yieldsof anchoveta 1976 - 1985.
These years had abnormally high SST.

33
Q

How do el nino years osscillate?

A

Oscillate between indian and pacific ocean. High pressure on one side = low pressure on other side

34
Q

Which was a bad el nino year and what were the consequences?

A

1977-8
Devastation both sides
Fire, drought, tornadoes, famine, cyclones, hurricanes, heavy rainfall, mudslides, ice storms
King penguin pop threatened by southern ocean warming

35
Q

Example of geo engineering

A

Iron fertilisation in HNLC areas eg Southern ocean. 2002
Early research shows stimulates growth of algae. change in species composition.
Disregard of whole ecosystem response.
Jellyfish bloom, Algae skeletons sink and cause widespread anoxia.
NOC investigated widespread long term effects. found increased growth of Pseudonitchsia, produce Domoic acid.

Marine ecology and physiology (15 decks)

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