The Marine Environment

Question 1

what is hydrogen bonding?

Answer 1

the attraction of a negative charge of a molecule to a positive charge of a another molecule

Question 2

pelagic realm

Answer 2

water column away from the bottom

Question 3

what is the Epelagic zone

Answer 3

it is the zone that includes the sea surface to a depth of about 200 meters

Question 4

what are some characteristics of the epelagic realm

Answer 4

-warmest portion of the water column
-most well lit
-vast stretches of water that support primary production
-plankton

Question 5

what are the limitations of epilagic level

Answer 5

• No substrate for attachment
• No bottom for burrowing or deposit feeding
• Places to hide from predators limited
• Predators cannot easily catch their prey

Question 6

what are plankton

Answer 6

Includes all organisms that cannot swim against the prevailing water currents. Many are microscopic, plankton is classified by size, trophic level, or the length of time spent in the plankton

Question 7

The surface level is divided into what categories

Answer 7

Neritic - waters over the continental shelf
Oceanic - waters beyond the continental shelf

Question 7

what are ways organisms increase surface area and drag?

Answer 7

–being flat
-spines and appendages

Question 8

what are some ways animals avoid being seen?

Answer 8

-Fast swimming
-protective coloration
-vertical migrations
-a variety of sense organs

Question 9

wind kind of sensory organs do some of these animals have?

Answer 9

Can be used to form images or simply to sense light/dark or patterns most pelagic animals have well-developed eyes
Eyesight is used to capture prey, avoid being eaten, find mates, and for some, to stay in groups
Cartilaginous and bony fishes have a lateral line for sensing of prey or other predators dolphins and other cetaceans use echolocation

Question 10

what kinds of camoflages are there

Answer 10

-Countershading
-Camouflage
-Transparency

Question 11

Ho do some of these organisms swim faster?

Answer 11

-A streamlined body to reduce drag
-a strongly forked caudal tail to increase thrust
-a narrow caudal peduncle to concentrate energy on the caudal fin

Question 12

what is upwelling?

Answer 12

The heating and cooling of surface water can cause deeper water to be brought to the surface in certain areas

Question 13

what are some of the effects of upwelling?

Answer 13

-Upwelling brings vital nutrients to the surface, nutrients that were lost from the pelagic as DOM, fecal material, mucous, ect
-Primary production is higher in areas of upwelling

Question 14

what are the types of upwelling?

Answer 14

-Coastal upwelling
-Equatorial upwelling
-Surface water moves away on opposite sides of the equator as a result of the Coriolis effect

Question 15

what is El nino

Answer 15

-Occurs as upwelling along the Pacific coast of South America decreased, causing a warming of the ocean surface

Question 16

what is the result of el nino

Answer 16

a sharp decrease in primary production and therefore a drop in plankton populations, fish catches, seabird populations

Question 17

what are ENSO?

Answer 17

global effects that go beyond El nino

Question 18

Ellaborrate on marine habitat destruction

Answer 18

-Most habitat destruction occurs close to the shore as a direct result of human development: unplanned or poorly planned development
-Destruction of marine habitats is more acute in developing countries, but is also common in developed countries

Question 19

What’s happening to coral reefs

Answer 19

Approximately one fourth of all coral reefs have been lost or are at risk: one-third of reef building coral species face extinction
- Pollution from sewage, agricultural runoff, and sedimentation
- Rising temperatures
- Ocean acidification
- Fishing with explosives
- Collection for the aquarium trade

Question 20

what is pollution

Answer 20

the human introduction of a substance that reduces the quality of the environment

Question 21

effects of oil pollution on marine organisms

Answer 21

• Organisms can accumulate components of oil, many of which are toxic
• These components can affect reproduction, growth, development, and behavior
• Organisms may also die of their feathers or fur becoming coated with oil
• Organisms living in estuaries, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and corals are also at great risk if coated with oil

Question 22

what is usually responsible for oil pollution?

Answer 22

Natural seeps, land based pollution and recreational boating, transportation of oil, exploration and extraction

Question 23

what are the main marine pollutants

Answer 23

• Solid wastes (particularly plastics)
• Microplastics from toothpaste and pharmaceuticals now found everywhere
• Thermal pollution (from power plants)
• Saline brines from desalination plants
• Radioactive wastes (from nuclear accidents [after 2011 japanese earthquake and tsunami], wastes dumped at sea, and sunken nuclear-powered submarines and ships)
  oil