Ocean Carbon Pump
Environmental Factors
Ocean Acidification and OAE
Zooplankton
Random Trivia
100
List at least 3 ways Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOM) can enter the carbon loop?
- Lysis of cells
- Cell Leakage
- Sloppy Feeding
- It's excreted
- Via breakdown of terrestrial material
100
What color wavelength penetrates the ocean furthest?
Blue
100
True or False:
The lowering of ocean pH (Ocean Acidification) is caused by an increase of CO2?
True
100
Is the Portuguese man-of-war a true jellyfish?
While the Portuguese man-of-war in a cniderian is not in the scyphozoan clade, which are true jellyfish.
100
Phototrophic vs Heterotrophic
Phototrophic: Uses light for energy
Heterotrophic: Uses dissolved nutrients for energy
200
What is Marine Snow?
Marine snow is the constant fall of organic debris down the water column, which is a crucial part of moving carbon.
200
How does the Saharan desert affect the Atlantic Ocean?
Dust and sand from the Sahara get blown into the Atlantic which boosts iron levels. This increases phytoplankton numbers.
200
What are the proposed upsides of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE)?
By increasing alkalinity this would slow down ocean acidifcation by allowing for an increase in CO2 absorption.
200
Why do copepods use Diel Vertical Migration?
This is a predation avoidance strategy as they feed closer to the surface at night so predators can't see them, and during the day they descend the water column.
200
How has the Gulf of Maine been impacted by climate change, temperature-wise, compared to the global average?
The Gulf of Maine is warming almost 3x more than the global average. Global average temperature increase per decade is 0.3 F while the Gulf of Maine is 0.84 F.
300
What is the Thermohaline Circulation, and how does it impact the Oceanic Carbon Pump?
The Thermohaline Circulation is a global current system that is driven by salinity and temperature. This system takes warm waters from the equator as it goes polewards and cools them. As this happens, the water is taking in CO2. This colder water sinks to the bottom as it's denser than warmer water, so it traps the CO2 at the bottom.
300
What biotic factors can effect sunlight pentration?
Water Turbidity, waves, clouds, the density of microbes in the water, lattitude, seasons
300
What is the term "Whiter Ocean" refering to?
This is refering to a possible side effect of OAE where calcium carbonate using organsism increase in population.
300
Name 2 ways Mesozooplankton grazing can be measured.
Prey Removal: Putting zooplankton in an area with a known amount of prey.
Gut Fluorescence: Monitoring chlorophyll in the gut allows the ingestion rate to be calculated.
300
How does the fishing process, Trawling impact ocean habitats?
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- Removes large amounts of organisms
- Nontargted marine life will get stuck and die
- Destroys the ocean floor by dragging over it
400
What are the two main components of the Oceanic Carbon Pump, and explain them briefly?
Biological Carbon Pump: The process by which organisms move carbon through the water column until it is sequestered on the ocean floor.
Physical Carbon Pump: The process of cold, denser water absorbing carbon dioxide and transporting it to the ocean floor as it sinks.
400
What is the Redfield Ratio in summary and what is it used for?
The Redfeild Ratio is the mean element make-up of marine plankton. Comparing a specific planktons make-up to the Redfeild Ratio shows the resources available in the water.
400
What are some ocean acidification mitigation techniques that have been proposed?
- Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
- Fe/N&P fertilization
- Terrestrial biomass dumping
400
How do Copepods create Feeding Cuttents?
Their limbs create vortexes around their body so the setae can catch the food particles.
400
What is the most abundant microbe in the ocean?
Viruses
500
Why is Bacterial Respiration fixing carbon so important?
Bacteria taking in and fixing carbon is one of the most important processes on the planet. Along with making more oxygen than trees, this process acts as a primary production from which oceanic food webs can grow.
500
What are some characteristics of high oxygenated ocean?
- Less organic matter
- Colder temperatures
- Higher atmosphere exchange
500
What are 3 way microbes could adapt to changing ocean environments?
- Microbes change in size to adapt to nutrient availability.
- Species change their location to find a new niche
- Natural selection occurs over a fast rate as microbes fight to out compete others
500
How do Zooplankton help the biological carbon pump?
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Zooplankton will either eat primary producers such as phytoplankton that will take up carbon, so it's passed through the food web. They also move up and down throughout the water column, so they bring carbon to many parts of the ocean.
500
Define Sverdrup's Critical Depth Hypothesis
He proposed that phytoplankton blooms occur when the critical depth is deeper than the mixed layer depth. This allows for the positive growth of phytoplankton.