Open Response Questions Flashcards
Explain how multiple marine critters have adapted to where and how they live?
Humpback whale (megaptera novaeangliae)
adapted to have baleen plates for feeding which helps filter what they eat and they also adapted to have throat pleats to accommodate for large gulps of water and food
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (limulus polyphemus)
adapted to be sand colored to blend in and to have a hard shell on top to be protected from predators while they eat.
Sea Otter (enhydra lutris)
adapted to have dense fur to stay warm, webbed feet to swim better, and their ability to close their nose and ears to keep water out.
Explain the process of upwelling and why it’s so important for specific food webs
Upwelling is the process where cold, nutrient rich water from the deep sea rises to the surface, typically caused by winds pushing surface water away from the shore, creating a space that is then filled by the deeper water. This rising water is often rich in nutrients, supporting a high level of marine life in upwelling zones.
It’s important for food webs because upwelling brings nutrient rich deep water to the surface, which significantly boosts the growth of phytoplankton, the base of the food chain, thereby supporting a high level of primary production.
Choose 2 OLPs to explain why it’s important to be an Ocean Literate Citizen
The ocean makes earth habitable
-the ocean provides water, oxygen, nutrients, and moderates the climate needed to sustain life.
-most of our oxygen comes from photosynthetic organisms in the ocean.
-earliest evidence of life is found in the ocean therefore we would not exist without it.
The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate
-Moderates global weather by absorbing most of the solar radiation reaching earth.
-Condensation of water that evaporated from warm seas provides the energy for hurricanes and cyclones.
Explain microbial chemosynthetic mutualism using 2 specific examples
Tubeworms & sulfide oxidizing bacteria living at hydrothermal vents
Deep sea clams with sulfide oxidizing bacteria living in their gills
Gutless worms & bacteria that utilize hydrogen sulfide as an energy source living in marine sediments
