Marine Science and Ecology Terms and Definitions (Exam Prep) Flashcards
Coriolis effect
The effect of Earth’s rotation on the direction of winds and currents.
Coriolis deflection
The apparent deflection of objects moving across Earth’s surface to the right of the direction of travel in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left of the direction of travel in the Southern Hemisphere. 45 degrees left or right. Caused by Coriolis force.
Ekman spiral
Surface winds drive surface currents, and each layer of water drags the layer below, but the Coriolis Force changes each layer’s direction slightly to make a spiral effect.
Coriolis force
The apparent force, resulting from the rotation of the Earth, that deflects air or water movement.
Downwelling
The movement of water from the surface to greater depths.
Due to: - Density - Temperature - Salinity of the seawater.
Upwelling
The process in which deep, cold and nutrient-rich water rises toward the surface.
What is thermohaline circulation?
Thermo = heat Haline = salinity
A water circulation produced by differences in temperature and/or salinity (and therefore density)
Surface currents
Ocean currents on the top of the water that are driven by wind.
Thermocline
A steep temperature gradient in a body of water such as a lake, marked by a layer above and below which the water is at different temperatures.
Pycnocline
Middle layer of the ocean. Change in density.
Nekton
Free-swimming animals that can move throughout the water column
Benthos
Organisms that live attached to or near the ocean floor
Biogeography
Geographic distribution of species.
Habitat is a huge factor for where species live.
- Environmental conditions
Abiotic
Non-living
- sunlight
- temperature
- air
- soil
- water
- salinity
- PH
- minerals
Biotic
Living
- animals
- plants
- bacteria
- fungi
- protists
- archaea
Biogeography is a sentence form.
Biogeography is the study of the geographic distribution of animals, plants, and other forms of life.
It considers the factors responsible for the variations in distribution and habitat patterns.
What is deep water emergence? and
What causes it?
- When a deep-sea species inhabits depths shallower than its usual distribution.
- Freshwater layer on the surface that is stained with tannins
Is the East Auckland Current (EAC) northerly or southerly?
Southerly
What is the freezing point of seawater?
-1.9 degrees celcius
What is the average salinity of the ocean?
35 PSU
What does PSU stand for?
Practical salinity units
What are the three plate tectonic boundaries?
- Divergent
- Convergent
- Transform
What are the main stress factors on animals living on the rocky shore?
- overheating
- desiccation
- cold temperatures
- wave shock
What are some adaptations that organisms use to avoid desiccation?
- Cats eye double door operculum is sealed with mucus
- Limpets clumping together
- This behavior retains moisture. They also clamp down and seal gaps with mucus.
- Shell colour
- Lighter shells are better for extreme temps as they can reflect light.