Transcript MARS 294 Introduction to Marine Biology • Dr. Ron Kaufmann • [email protected] • [email protected] • Shiley Center 274 (x5904) • Office Hrs: Mo 1:30-3:00 Th 2:30-4:30 Fr 12:30-2:00 •

MARS 294
Introduction to Marine Biology
• Dr. Ron Kaufmann
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• Shiley Center 274 (x5904)
• Office Hrs: Mo 1:30-3:00
Th 2:30-4:30
Fr 12:30-2:00
• www.sandiego.edu/~kaufmann/mars294/mars294.html
I.
What is Marine Biology?
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Biology of organisms inhabiting the ocean
Marine biologists study different things at
different levels
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Molecules  Ecosystems
Related to oceanography, particularly biological
oceanography
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Coastal vs. Open Ocean
Shallow vs. Deep Water
Perspective: Organismal vs. Environmental
Studying marine organisms requires
understanding of
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Principles of evolution (esp. natural selection)
Physical/chemical environment and interactions
II.
Ecology
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“Ecology” from Greek “Oikos” (house)
Interactions among groups of organisms
and between organisms and physical
environment
Includes abiotic and biotic components
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Physical
Chemical
Biological
Habitat – Location where organisms live
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Unique combination of characteristics
Microhabitat
III. Physical Environment
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Ocean: ~71% of earth’s surface area
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Largest volume of habitat on earth
Average depth ~3700 m
Marine habitat differs from terrestrial
habitat in important ways
Three-dimensional
Terrestrial
Marine
Air typically not a
permanent habitat
Entire ocean available as
potential habitat
No real equivalent to
aquatic plankton
Many species planktonic,
some holoplankton
III. Physical Environment
A. Sunlight
• Quantity and quality related to physical
characteristics of water
• Intensity decreases with depth
• Maximum penetration ~1000 m
• Light penetration affects
• Photosynthesis
• Vision
• Behavior
• Spectral attenuation
oceanexplorer.noaa.gov
III. Physical Environment
B.
Temperature
• Varies predictably with latitude, depth
• Consistent within a region and time period
• Exception: intertidal areas
Fig. 4-10
III. Physical Environment
B.
Temperature
• Varies predictably with latitude, depth
• Consistent within a region and time period
• Exception: intertidal areas
• Affects thermoregulation
• Most marine organisms are ectotherms
• Some animals are endotherms
• Adaptations to retain heat
• Affects species distributions
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Polar
Cold temperate
Subtropical (warm temperate)
Tropical