1
What is the main difference between biotic and abiotic
biotic refers to all living organism while abiotic refers to all non living things
what elements are lipids composed of?
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
What is the purpose of a carbohydrate?
to provide energy and structure
what is the monomer for proteins?
amino acids
explain the difference between uptake and intake
Intake is when the primary producers absorb nutrients such as phytoplankton. Uptake is when other animals consume those primary producers
State the 5 major nutrients in the ocean
Nitrogen, Carbon, Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus
State an example of excretion and decomposition occurring in the ocean.
Waste from urine in mammals and ammonia in fish
What is the purpose of phosphorus?
To make bones and DNA
How can increased runoff be beneficial to marine organisms?
Increased nutrients lead to higher productivity which leads to more growth.
Explain how an algal bloom can result in a dead zone
- algal bloom blocks light
-less photosynthesis leads to less o2 being made
- plants, algae, and phytoplankton die
- bacteria uses o2 to decompose the plants, algae, and phytoplankton
-o2 levels decrease creating a hypoxic zone
-fish don't have enough o2 and suffocate/die
-bacteria decomposes fish using more o2
- all oxygen and nutrients are gone resulting in a anoxic/ dead zone
Explain how uptake and assimilation depletes nutrients from the ocean.
primary producers such as phytoplankton absorb nutrients nutrients to grow, reproduce, and make organic substances.
List the three long term processes affecting the carbon cycle.
- Greenhouse gases and fossil fuels
- Ocean acidification
- tectonic processes
Explain how nutrients are replenished in the upper layers of the ocean using atmospheric dissolution.
Carbon dioxide dissolves at the surface from the air and allows photosynthesis
Nitrogen Gas dissolves at the surface due to the air
In the process of calcium being recycled in the ocean. What happens after the calcium enters the sea from erosion?
The calcium is dissolved into the water. Uptake of calcium carbonate by marine organisms to make bones, shells, and coral. Organisms die and fall to the seafloor due to detritus.
How do greenhouse gases effect the carbon cycle?
The sediment trapped on ocean floor gets turned into fossil fuels because of the heat and pressure. combustion returns the co2 into the atmosphere.
Explain how upwelling increases ocean productivity.
Upwelling brings nutrient rich deep water to the surface. Increasing phytoplankton growth
Describe how fixing nitrogen helps marine ecosystems
Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms like ammonia for plants and algae
Describe the role of phytoplankton in the carbon cycle
Phytoplankton absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and store carbon in biomass
Explain how sedimentation depletes nutrients from ocean water
When nutrients sink with dead organisms and waste to the ocean floor it removes them from surface waters
How can ocean currents increase the distribution of nutrients in the ocean.
currents move the nutrient rich water all throughout the ocean.
Explain how ocean acidification affects the calcium cycle
The ocean acidification reduces carbonate which makes it hard for organisms to build shells and skeletons.
Explain how the phosphorus cycle differs from the nitrogen cycle.
the phosphorus cycle only occurs in the ocean while the nitrogen cycle has components between the atmosphere, land, and ocean
Describe how the disruption of one nutrient cycle can affect multiple marine ecosystems.
It can alter productivity, oxygen levels, biodiversity, and the stability of food webs
Describe the relationship between the carbon cycle and ocean acidification
The ocean absorbs excess atmospheric CO2, forming carbonic acid that lowers pH and reduces carbonate ion availability.
Where is primary productivity the highest near coastlines
It is the high in areas that receive nutrients from deep ocean waters which fuels phytoplankton growth.