SCM 330 Ocean Discovery through Technology

1. SCM 330 Ocean Discovery through Technology Area F GE

16. Biological Oceanography

39. Biological Oceanography Marine Biology is the study of organisms that happen to be marine. The focus is on the organisms themselves Biological Oceanography is the study of the relationships between marine organisms and the marine environments where they are found. The focus is on how these organisms “make a living” in their environment

40. Biological Oceanography • Contain highly organized matter (low entropy). • Capture, store, transmit energy. • Reproduce nearly identical forms. • Live in ecosystems • Energy cycling by living things. • Cycling of matter by living things.

41. Biological Oceanography Energy Pathways Photosynthesis—autotrophic metabolismGreen plants, photosynthetic bacteria 6CO2 + 6 H2O energy in C6H12O6 + 6O2 Respiration—heterotrophic metabolismConsumers (animals, fungi, humans) C6H12O6 + 6O2energy out 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP (ATP is a biochemical energy storage compound) ADP energy in ATP : ATPenergy out ADP Chemosynthesis—autotrophic metabolism using chemical energy 2H2S + 5O2energy out 2SO4 + 2H2O +

42. Biological Oceanography The amount of organic matter in an ecosystem (measured as amount per surface area) is its biomass, the total mass of all living things and their products. Ecosystem production is measured as biomass, energy stored, or stored carbon. Net production is the change in biomass over a specified time. NP=B2-B1 or NP = GP - Respiration

43. Biological Oceanography The gross production of biomass by autotrophs refers to the total production of organic matter within these individuals. Biomass remaining after individuals’ use of gross production through respiration is the net production. The products of net production increase organisms’ total weight, energy content, and stored carbon.

44. Biological Oceanography The first law of thermodynamics or the law of conservation of energy states that neither matter nor energy is created nor destroyed in any process, but can be changed from one form to another. The second law of thermodynamics states that in any energy transfer, the energy is changed from a more useful, organized form to a less useful and organized form. Thus, no energy transfer can be 100% efficient. Ecosystems are “fueled” by an external energy source. Passing through the system, the energy is degraded, dissipated, then released to an external energy sink.

45. Biological Oceanography Human Energy Transfer up the Food Chain/Web

46. Biological Oceanography • Classification of Organisms: • Taxonomic – Morphology/Genetic Similarity • Functional – What they do in the environment • Habitat – Where they exist • Size

47. Biological Oceanography Taxonomic Swedish botanist Carl Linneaus (1707-1778).

48. Biological Oceanography • Functional • Autotrophic • Chemoautotrophic • Photoautotrophic • Producer • Prokaryotic - bacteria • Eukaryotic • Heterotrophic • Microbial Loop • Decomposer • Consumer (primary/secondary)

49. Biological Oceanography Habitat Plankton - floaters - organisms that either do not swim or can propel themselves weakly Nekton - swimmers - organisms capable of moving significant distances or at significant speeds Benthos - organisms that live on or within the ocean bottom

50. Biological Oceanography Plankton • Plankton are organisms that drift with the current • Many species can swim, but not sufficient to determine their horizontal position • Usually are limited to vertical movements (migration) • Much of Earth’s biomass is plankton • Phytoplankton - photosynthetic (plant) plankton • Zooplankton - animal plankton • Bacterioplankton - bacterial plankton • Macroplankton are large plankton (2 - 20 cm) • Picoplankton are very small plankton (0.2 - 2 µm) • Holoplankton - are planktonic for their entire life • Meroplankton - are benthic or nektonic organisms that have planktonic larvae phytoplankton