Midterm 2 Flashcards
1
Q
what is holoplankton
A
organisms that spend entire life as plankton
2
Q
what are meroplankton
A
organisms that only spend larval stage as plankton
3
Q
what are the types of non-sexual reproduction
A
fission: individual divides in 2
fragmentation: individual grows from part of another individual
vegetative spread: grows from common rhizome system
4
Q
what are the types of sexual reproduction
A
internal
external
5
Q
In the sea, is sexual or non-sexual reproduction more common
A
sexual
6
Q
what is gonochorism
A
sperate sexes
7
Q
what is hermaphoditism
A
both sexes occur in same individual (can be simultaneous or sequential)
8
Q
how do broadcast spawners increase fertilization rate
A
- spawning aggregations
- spawning synchrony (cues)
9
Q
what is a larva
A
has functional organs, but looks different from adult
10
Q
what are the types of larvae
A
- Planktrophic
- lecithotrophic
- direct development (no planktonic stage)
11
Q
what are some basic characteristics of planktrophic larvae
A
- feed on plantonic bacteria, algae, smaller zooplankton
- duration: weeks to months
- long dispersal
- limited investment
- many produced high mortality
12
Q
what are some basic characteristics of lecithotrophic larvae
A
- arise from large eggs (food source for them)
- no feeding/digestive structures
duration: days to weeks - shorter dispersal
- fewer produced, lower mortality
13
Q
what are some basic characteristics of direct development larvae
A
- viviparous (in mom) or oviparous (attach fertilized eggs to the bottom)
- planktonic duration: 0
- fewest produced, no plankton morality
14
Q
where are there shorter planktonic durations (temperate or tropics) and why
A
shorter in tropics
since warm temperatures/low latitudes = faster development
15
Q
what are the types estuaries
A
- Coastal plain, tectonic, Fjord, lagoon
16
Q
what is a coastal plain estuary
A
estuaries that form between glacial periods, when they melt sea level rises and fills coastal plains and low lying rivers
17
Q
what is a tectonic estuary
A
forms as a result of earthquakes that cause land to sink, creating a connection between sea and wetlands behind broken barrier
18
Q
what is a fjord
A
formed by glaciers that cut valleys into coasts
19
Q
whats the difference between a fjord and a fjard
A
fjards have less defined sills, gently undulating topography, irregular shape, often include islands
20
Q
what is a lagoon
A
formed when sand bars build up parallel to the coast to form barrier islands that partially cut off sea
21
Q
what is a positive estuary
and where is it found
A
sufficient influx of freshwater leading to mixing and increased salinity towards mouth of estuary
in temperate regions
22
Q
what is a negative estuary
and where
A
high evaporation rate at surface causes the surface water to become hyper saline, sinks to bottom and flows out as bottom current = increased salinity towards head
in arid areas
23
Q
what are the 2 challenges to living in estuaries
A
- dealing with low/changing salinity
- remaining stationary in a tidal system
24
Q
what are strategies to maintain osmotic balance in estuaries
A
- osmocomformers: maintain internal environment which is isotonic to outside environment
- osmoregulators: maintain constat salt concentration in body
25
what are adaptations that osmoregulators have
- absorb oil through gils
- concentrate ions in body when salinity is low, excrete when its high
morphological: body surface that reduces permeability (ex: mucous glands)
behavioural: seek habitats lesss affected by changing salinity
26
what do marine fish do in regards to water and ion excretion/adsorption
drink a lot, excrete ions through gills
looses water through skin
excretes concentrated urine
27
what do freshwater fish do in regards to water and ion excretion/adsorption
don't drink
take up ions through gills
absorb water through skin
excrete dilute urine
28
what are strategies to cope with living in a tidal system
- take advantage of water column, move with currents
- live in bottom (ex: permanently attached)
- live in sediment (infauna) = less variation in salinity/temp because sediment water exchanges slowly with overlying water
29
what are are the types of estuary mixing
- salt wedge
- partially mixed
- well mixed
- fjord
30
what are the characteristics of a salt wedge
freshwater flows out at surface, seawater flows in at borrow, creating angled wedge
main influence: river flow
- salinity break
31
what are the characteristics of partially mixed estuaries
strong surface flow + influx of seawater
main influence: river+ tides
changing salinity with depth
32
what are the characteristics of well mixed estuaries
low river flow
main influence: tidal currents
uniform salinity with depth
33
what are the characteristics of fjord
fresh water remains at surface
little mixing
horizontal salinity stratification
34
what are the key environmental features of estuaries
salinity, mixing, temperature, sediment, dissolved O2
35
what are the types of species in estuaries
- freshwater species
- transitional species
- Euryhaline (can tolerate varying salinity)
- stenohaline: doesn't tolerate change in salinity well
- brackish water species (in salinity higher than fresh, lower than saltwater)
36
what are the key environmental features of mudflats
- flat slope
- fine grained sediment
- anaerobic/anoxic conditions
37
are mud flat food webs species rich or species poor
species poor
38
how many food webs do salt marshes have (what is it/are they)
2
pelagic + benthic pathway
39
what are saltmarshes greatly affected/controlled by
consumers
40
what are the ecosystem services of salt marshes
- nursery habitat
- coastal protection
- water filtration
41
what are the key environmental features of a saltmarsh
- variable salinity (when it rains = lower salinity, until tide comes in, evaporation = higher)
- oxygen availability (soil)
- high productivity but little herbivory
-> most producers are plants
- > also source of detritus
42
why does BC tend to have smaller/shorter estuaries/salt marshes/mudlats, etc..
since it has a steep coast/narrow coastal margin
43
where do salt marshes develop
where sediment accumulates and gets trapped by the vasculature of plants, between marine and terrestrial environments
44
where does spartina grow
salt marshes
45
what determines the zonation of salt marshes
gradients of salinity, competition, flooding tolerance
46
what are the zones of a salt marsh
low marsh -> high marsh -> upland border
47
what are saltmarsh creeks influenced by (and how is sediment affected differently)
influenced by tides
the more flow, the coarser the sediment, fine sediment washes away
48
what is the main source of productivity in salt marshes
saltmarsh plants
49
what are the key environmental features of mud flats
flat slope
fine grained sediment
anaerobic anoxic conditions
50
how do creatures adapt to living in anoxic mud in mudflats
burrows which connect to surface
sensitive O2 carriers
glycogen stores
51
what are the ways organisms eat while living in mud
deposit feeders
suspension feeders
52
what are the sources of productivity in mudflats
- daily input of marine nutrients
- diatomes, chemotrophic bacteria
53
do mudflats have high/low productivity
high, but low herbivory
54
how many food webs are there in mudflats (what is/are it)
2
below/above the surface
55
what is biofilm
and what is it comprised of
thin slimy layer on mud
diatoms and bacteria
56
what are the ecosystem services of mudflats
coastal protection
migratory bird habitats
fisheries (clams + worms)
57
what are the threats for mudflats
coastal urbanization
land reclamation
pollution
58
what do oysters do in relation to N from agriculture run off
mop up excess N through filter feeding
59
what are the environmental services that oyster flats do
water filtration
habitat provisions
coastal protection
food
60
what are the sources of loss for oyster reefs
fishing, pollution, aquaculture, introductions
61
what is ecological connectivity
degree to which landscapes + seascapes allow species to move freely + ecological processes to function unimpeded
62
what are autochthonous sources
native to habitat
63
what are allochthonous sources
from different environment (non-native)
64
what are kelps, and main features
brown macro-algae
very large, fast growing
bladders for buoyancy
ecosystem engineers
65
what is the different between a kelp forest and kelp bed
forest: kelp reaches surface making a canopy
bed: doesn't form a canopy
66
what are the key environmental features that kelp forests need
- shallow water (since photosynthesis)
- low temperature
- nutrients (especially nitrates)
- low water motion
- hard substrate
67
do nitrates increase/decrease depth/temperature increase
increase
68
what is main limiting nutrient in sea
nitrogen
69
do macroalgae prefer ammonium or nitrate
ammonium since they have to convert nitrates to ammonium
70
why are bull kelps better in high motion environments than giant kelp
since bull kelp stipe in thinner (less drag)
71
do kelp forests have seasonal variation
yes, less biomass in winter
72
do kelp forests have high/low productivity
high
73
what are epiphytes
organisms growing on kelp
74
what is an encrusting layer
living on substrate
75
are kelp forest top down or bottom up controlled
top down
76
what are the services of kelp forests
nursery habitat
fisheries
carbon sink
nutrient removal
77
what are the threats to kelp forests
harvesting
loss of predators
climate change (kelp dont like warm water )
78
what are the 2 types of life in the open ocean
what one is more abundant
plankton: drifters, more abundant
neckton: strong swimmers (swim against currents)
79
what are the 2 challenges to living in open ocean
- remaining afloat
- epipelagic species cannot hide quickly
80
what are strategies to remaining afloat in open ocean
- swim (cilia/appendages)
- reducing sinking rate (increasing friction, sinking rate, increasing buoyancy)
81
what are strategies to species in open ocean that cannot hide in open ocean
- self defence (ex: stingers, ink)
- be inconspicuous (transparent, countershading)
- safety in numbers
82
what does a lot of the primary production in open ocean rely on
- phytoplankton
- heterotrophic bacteria
83
is there high/low productivity in in open ocean
low
84
are plankton populations patchy in open ocean
yes
85
what important role do heterotrophic bacteria play in open ocean
recycling DOM (loss of DOM would limit PP)
provide a second base to food web
86
what are viriplankton
- most abundant plankton
lyse bacteria and phytoplankton releasing DOM, sink as marine snow (removes nutrients) (slow rate at which biomass is converted into biomass of higher consumers)
87
88
what is a standing crop biomass
amount of material at a place at a moment in time
89
what is the twilight zone
mesopelagic zone
still a bit of light, but not enough for photosynthesis (below there is no light)
90
what are the key environmental factors of the deep ocean
- long term stability (lack of gradients)
- soft sediment
- high pressure
- cold
- no light
91
what are the 2 challenges the deep sea creatures face
- finding mates
- finding food
92
what are strategies to find mates in deep ocean
- advertise species + sex (ex: male lantern fish have lights on tail)
- become deeply attached
- male anglerfish have bigger eyes to see females, and greater olfactory senses to detect female pheromones
93
what are strategies for deep ocean creatures to find food
- vertical migration
- able to digest large prey
- false advertisment (lure)
94
is most life in deep ocean big/small
small
95
where do deep sea vents form
rift zones along oceanic ridges
96
what are the types of deep sea vents
- black smoker (closer to heat sources, narrow tall chimneys, clear acidic water)
- white smoker (shorter chimneys, alkaline milky white fluid)
97
how does PP work at deep sea vents
no photosynthesis, but there is chemotropic bacteria
oxidize compounds like H2S to produce energy
98
do deep sea vents have high or low productivity
high
99
what are the key environmental features of polar seas
- cold
- snow/ice
- drastic changes in photoperiod
100
what is pack ice
sea ice that is not attached to to shore/any fixed object
frozen sea water forms semi solid matrix permeated by a network of channels and pores
salt doesn't enter the ice, expelled and collected as brine channels
101
what is different between Antarctic and arctic pack ice
arctic: persistant (multiyear), thicker, little seasonal variability or cover,, small irregular ice bergs
Antarctic: thinner, high seasonal variability of coverage, large icebergs
102
where does ice algae grow
near bottom of sea ice
103
when do phytoplankton blooms occur in polar ice
when ice retreats (melts) more light os available for photosynthesis
104
what are Antarctic benches dominated by (why)
hard bottomed communities
since not dominated by rivers (not much sediment)
105
what are arctic benches dominated by (why)
has areas of high sedimentation because of lots of rivers
106
when do abundances of large animals increase in polar seas
spring
since sea ice melts, so ice algae, nutrients, DOM, nutrient rich upwellings => phytoplankton upwellings
107
how does PP differ between arctic and antarctic
arctic: inorganic nutrients are depleted quickly
antarctic: high nutrients, low chlorophyll (since low Fe. Fe comes from land, essential for phytoplankton growth)
108
what are the 3 taxonomic orders of marine mammals
- cetaceans
- carnivora
- sirenians
109
what is echolocation
generation and reception of sound in head of toothed whales
110
how can marine mammals facilitate bottom up effects
by promoting nutrient cycling (nutrients in feces, urine) help stimulate phytoplanktonic blooms
111
how do marine mammals avoid the bends
by collapsing lungs, flexible ribs, lungs have greater elasticity
with increased pressure, air is pushed into central lung space where n N is absorbed (need less air, so less N also)
112
what kind of vision do cetaceans have
colour blind
113
what adaptations do cetaceans have to see in/out of water
2 areas of cell density on retina
curved cornea
114
what are adaptations to reduce heat loss (marine mammals)
fur/blubber insulation
reduce blood flow in appendages
countercurrent blood exchange
cetaceans have low SA to volume ration
115
why do sirenians have anteriorly positioned nostrils
allow for rapid gas exchange while swimming
116
why do sirenians have dense bones
to neutralize blubber buoyancy
117
are dugongs marine or freshwater
marine
118
are manatees marine or freshwater
both
119
what are the diet differences between manatees and dugongs
dugongs: bottom feeders, mainly eat seagrass
manatees: wider diet, eat wide range of plants/algae
120
do manatees or dugongs migrate
manatees migrate to warmer water when temp drops
121
where do pinnipeds tend to live
largely in cold water regions with high marine productivity (often in upwelling areas)
122
what do pinnipeds use to navigate
rely on vision + touch, no echolocation
123
what are nictitating membrane
translucent third eye lid that can be drawn across eye for protection
124
where do walruses only live
only occur over continental shelves (as they feed on inverts and cannot effectively feed at deep depths)
125
what does ecomorphytes mean
distinct morphological adaptations that correspond to specific ecological roles and habitats
126
how do apex predators enhance carbon storage
by surpassing foraging activity through fear mediated behavioural responses
reduces degradation of C ecosystems
127
what is the subtropical/tropical equivalent of saltmarshes
mangroves
128
what are the types of mangals
fringing: closest to ocean
basin: just landward of fringing
riverine
129
what are the main characteristics of fringing mangals
-often first to colonize mudflats
-large tidal range
-full salinity
-wave action
-keeps growing at sea edge
130
what are the main characteristics of basin mangals
-lower tidal range
-variable salinity
-lower wave action
-often in depressions/basins = stagnant water flow
131
what are the main characteristics of riverine mangals
- lowest tidal range
- fresh water dominated
132
what are the mangal zonation
red -> black -> white
133
what are the key environmental features of mangroves
- low to no wave action
- water logged, unconsolidated and saline mud
- anaerobic conditions
134
how to mangal plants reproduce
- wind or animal assisted pollination
- viviparous seedling, propagules
- dispersal by water
135
what are basis of mangrove PP
-daily input of marine nutrients
-mangrove trees (90%), algal/diatoms
136
do mangroves have high productivity
high, but few herbivores
137
what are the ecosystem services of mangroves
organic production export
nursery habitat
habitat for migratory birds
coastal protection
138
what are the causes of loss of mangroves
logging, conversion to aquaculture, storms
139
what are the key environmental features of sea grass meadows
soft sediment
ample light availability
sufficient, not abundant nutrients (can't use as fast as algae so they take over)
140
what does PP in sea grass meadows
- sea grass, epiphytes, benthic algae, phytoplankton
141
do sea grass meadows have high/low productivity
high
142
at natural abundances what effect do mega grazers have on sea grass meadows
top down
143
what are the ecosystem services that seagrass meadows do
nursery habitat
coastal protection
C sequestration
144
what are threats to sea grass meadows
eutrophication
removal
disease
145
are coral reefs nutrient dense or nutrients deserts
nutrient desert
146
what is the coral polyp calcium house called
corallite
147
what are the key environmental features of coral reefs
- warm water
- light availability
- hard substrate
- low sedimentation (so doesn't block light)
- high salinity
- limited nutrients (or else macro algae doesn't take over)
148
how do corals reproduce
non-sexual: budding, fission, fragmentation
sexual: broadcast spawning, brooding, hermaphoditic
149
what does the structure of reef fronts do
absorbs force from waves
150
what are the reef zones
reef flat, reef crest, reef flat
151
what are the ecosystem services of coral reefs
- coastal protection
- fisheries
- tourism
152
what are the threats to coral reefs
fishing
disease
climate change
153
do coral reefs have many/few herbivores
many
154
do coral reefs have many or few detritivores
few
155
are coral reefs top or bottom controlled
top down
156
what does the PP in coral reefs
turf algae/macroalgae
zooxanthallae
157
do coral reefs have high/low productivity
high
158
what are the ecosystem needs of mangrove forests
low wave action
159
what are the ecosystem needs of seagrass meadows
low wave action, clear water
160
what are the ecosystem needs of coral reefs
clear water
