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Oceanography > Primary Productivity 2 > Flashcards

Primary Productivity 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Coccolithophores

A

Unicellular phytoplankton.
External shell made of calcareous plates called coccoliths. 1-10 um

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2
Q

Why are coccolithophores important

A

Important contributors to ocean carbon uptake: Organic C +CaCO3

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3
Q

Morphology of coccolithophores

A
  • Nucleus:DNA
  • Chloroplasts: Photosynthesis
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cell membrane
  • Mitochondria: generate ATP (chemical energy)
  • Golgi body: packages and distributes macromolecules
  • Storage vacuole: waste, harmful products, pH regulation, internal pressure: density reduction
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4
Q

Dinoflagellates

A

Unicellular phytoplankton. 10-250um.

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5
Q

Flagella - dinoflagellates

A

Used for motility- can ‘swim’ to stay in nutrient-rich patches

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6
Q

Autotrophic

A

Perform photosynthesis to obtain energy from the sun and fix carbon

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7
Q

Heterotrophic

A

Obtain energy from organic carbon by eating other organisms, detritus or DOM

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8
Q

Mixotrophic

A

Can perform photosynthesis to fix carbon and take up DOM

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9
Q

Features of dinoflagellate anatomy

A

–> Epitheca - thecal plates
–> Transverse flagellum
–> Hypotheca - sulcus and longitudinal flagellum

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10
Q

Dinoflagellate reproduction

A

Mostly asexual- mitosis

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11
Q

Red tides (harmful algal blooms)

A

Occur when certain types of algae, particularly dinoflagellates, rapidly multiply in water. These blooms can discolor the water, though not always red, and some produce toxins harmful to marine life and humans. When these algae die, they deplete oxygen in the water, harming ecosystems

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12
Q

Phylogeny

A

Evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms

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13
Q

Planktic Microfossils

A

Provide one of the most complete records of biodiversity through time

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14
Q

What do planktic microfossils help us track?

A

Tracks global changes in the climate-ocean system and influences biodiversity and productivity of higher trophic levels of the biosphere e.g. higher diversity during warmer climate epochs

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15
Q

% of marine biota dissapeared over the last 30 years?

A

30%

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16
Q

What does loss of biodiversity lead to?

A

Weakens ecosystem resilience and functional role

17
Q

30x30 initiative

A

Plan to conserve 30% of nature by 2030

18
Q

Light availability

A

Affects the distribution of phytoplankton at depth

19
Q

Pigments- light

A

Transform solar energy into chemical energy

20
Q

All pigments absorb light of wavelengths?

A

400-700nm

21
Q

Maximum absorption of chlorophyll a

A

Red and blue-violet

22
Q

Pigment in photic and twilight zones

A

Fucoxanthin- blue-green

23
Q

Pigment in deep photic zone

A

Phycoerythrin- yellow

24
Q

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

A

Total photosynthesis

25
Q

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

A

GPP- respiration

26
Q

Photoinibition

A

Decrease in the photosynthetic rate at higher light intensities e.g. shrinkage of chloroplasts

27
Q

Compensation Point

A

Respiration=Photosynthesis

28
Q

Limiting nutrients for life

A
  • Nitrate NO3-
  • Phosphate PO43-
  • Iron Fe
  • Manganese Mn
29
Q

Limits of phytoplankton (Primary productivity))

A

Light or nutrients

30
Q

Seasonal patterns

A

Affect levels of primary productivity
Polar: light limited, summer phytoplankton bloom
Temperate: spring and autumn phytoplankton bloom
Tropics: nutrient-limited, low productivity all year round

31
Q

Zooplankton grazing

A

Zooplankton graze on phytoplankton.

Zooplankton grazing plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by controlling phytoplankton populations. By consuming phytoplankton, zooplankton regulate their abundance, preventing unchecked growth that could lead to harmful algal blooms and disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.

32
Q

Problems with zooplankton overgrazing

A
  • Disruption of the food web
  • Harmful algal blooms
  • Changes in nutrient cycling
33
Q

Ocean gyres = anticyclonic

A

Clockwise in N Hemisphere and anticlockwise in S hemisphere

34
Q

Convergence gyres

A

No upwelling. low productivity

35
Q

Small cyclonic gyres

A

Divergence, upwelling and high productivity

36
Q

Coastal divergence

A

Upwelling of nutrient-rich deeper waters

37
Q

Ekman transport

A

Net flow of water to the right of the wind in N. hemisphere and to the left in S . hemisphere

38
Q
A

Oceanography (23 decks)

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