Pelagic Biology Flashcards
1
Q
Define nekton.
A
- Cephalopods
- Fish
- Whales and porpoises
- Seals, walruses and sea lions
- Sea birds
- Sea turtles.
2
Q
Define nertic.
A
Shallow water/ coastal.
3
Q
Give some adaption of organisms living in the Nertic zone.
A
- Squid have protective membrane over eye
- Plankton use different photosynthetic architecture to adapt to variable nutrient and light levels.
4
Q
What are the different types of pelagic fish?
A
- Holopelagic - species that are permanent members of the pelagic community
- Meropelagic - species that are only temporary members of the pelagic community.
5
Q
How are pelagic fish splot into size groups and give examples of each?
A
- Small pelagic - anchovy
- Medium sized pelagic - Chub mackerel
- Large pelagic - tuna.
6
Q
Give epipelagic species adaptions.
A
- Blue colour of epipelagic species may contain UV protective pigments and protect against predation
- streamlined
- floating adaptions
- have keel to prevent shadows
- scholling.
7
Q
Give a mesopelagic species adaption.
A
Red colours are invisible at these depths so many fish adopt this colour.
8
Q
What is a regime shift?
A
Rapid jumps from one regime to another - ecosystems can exist in multiple stable states.
9
Q
Give an example of a regime shift in coral reefs.
A
- Pollution and over-exploitation
- Sea urchin pathogen outbreak
- Population collapse
- Increase in mavroalgal cover.
10
Q
What is an ecosystem state.
A
Series of measured biological measures.
