Week 13 Flashcards
What are the main physical features of marine environments that control the abundance and distribution of organisms?
Water salinity, Temp, Light intensity, substrate, tides and wave velocity.
What is primary production, and what types of organisms are the primary producers in marine habitats?
Production of biomass via the capture of solar energy.
Phytoplankton, macroaglae, plants, Cyanobacteria
What are the main physical and biotic features of Seagrass habitats?
Physical: soft substrates, calm areas, depth dependant on water turbidity.
Biotic: Leaves=substrates for epiphytes/epizoa. Swards= shelter/breading for fish
What are the main physical and biotic features of Mangrove habitats?
Physical: Soft marginal substrate -> sheltered/gently sloping, subject to 1m tide above 24c
Biotic: high primary production, nursery area for fish, habitats for birds, bats, insects.
What are the main physical and biotic features of Salt marsh habitats?
Physical: Soft substrate, under 24c isotherm, .5m tide, protected shores.
Biotic: Primary productivity important to Invertebrates/birds. Food web
How does a poikilotherm regulate its body temperature?
They can’t. Internal temperature is the same as the external environment.aa
How do homeotherms regulate temperature?
Via metabolic activity (Homeostasis), muscular activity/altered blood flow, or both
What is a counter current?
Temperature regulation: Hot blood in arteries flow in opposite directions to cold blood in veins
Respiration: Blood vessels in gills near blood vessels with oxygen
Using marine organisms as examples, explain the difference between osmoregulators, and osmoconformers?
Osmoregulators maintain the concentration of substances within the body (Reptiles, fish)
Osmoconformers have the same osmolality as their surroundings (Crustaceans, most invertebrates)
