The History Of Marine Biology and Oceanography Flashcards
Who did oceanic exploration start with?
The Melanesians about 100,000 years ago, while confined to coastal areas.
Where did the Pacific Islanders explore?
They explored vast reaches of oceans in the Polynesian triangle as early as 1500 BCE. They knew about marine life and wind, waves, and navigation patterns, passed down orally.
Who were the earliest Western ocean explorers?
Phoenicians, who developed nautical charts and a written record of marine biology. They sailed around the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Black Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.
Who is the first Marine Biologist and what did he recognize?
Aristotle was the first Marine Biologist and he recognized many ocean life forms and that gills were the breathing apparatus of fish.
At what time period did the study of marine life wane in Europe?
The early Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, who continued to explore?
The Vikings, who were skilled voyagers who learned about the ocean.
When did exploration reappear as a European interest?
The Renaissance.
Who went on the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe?
Ferdinand Magellan
Who was James Cook?
An English sea captain who was a skillful navigator, cartographer, writer, artist, diplomat, sailor, and scientist.
Who was the first to take scientific measurements using a chronometer?
Captain James Cook while onboard the HMS Endeavor in 1768
What was Cook the first to do?
He was the first to circumnavigate the world at high latitudes, map the Great Barrier Reef, and made notes on the history of marine environments.
Who is Charles Darwin?
One of the more famous naturalists who sailed on the HMS Beagle for 5 years. He was seasick for most of the voyage but his discoveries lead to his theory of evolution by natural selection. He took detailed natural history notes, mapped coastlines, and explained the formation of atolls.
What are atolls?
Rings of coral reef that form around subsided volcanoes.
How did the US contribute to marine biology in the 1800s?
Through the US Exploring Expedition of 1838- 42, also called the Wilkes Expedition. They crossed the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and southern oceans, confirmed Antarctica was a continent and described 2,000 new species. 1st expedition sponsored by the US government, and laid foundation for the Smithsonian institution.
What is a notable exploration lead by Charles Wyville Thompson?
Aboard the HMS challenger from 1872-1876, funded by the British government, they sailed around the world and collected samples of water, sediment, and specimens. This expedition set new standards for marine research and laid the foundation for modern marine science.
