Chapter 1
State the meaning of ion
an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more electrons creating an electrical charge
Describe how the mixing of seawater occurs
Turbulence
Waves
Currents
State the macromolecule that is made from smaller molecules such as glucose
cellulose; carbohydrates
State the term meaning an identification tool utilising a series of choices between alternative characters, with a direction to another stage in the key, unitil the species is identified.
dichotomous key
Explain, with examples, how coral reefs contribute to stable abiotic factors in the environment.
physical contribution to shorelines ; preventing erosion ; (by) reducing wave energy / height / speed ; providing solid substrate ; for coral polyps to attach to ; climate control ; zooxanthellae photosynthesising ; using carbon dioxide (and releasing oxygen) / therefore reducing / slowing global warming ; reducing ocean acidification
State the meaning of halocline
a layer of water below the mixed surface layer where a rapid change in salinity can be measured as depth increases
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
A chimney with a height of 60 m above the ocean floor has been discovered at a hydrothermal vent.
The ocean depth from the surface to the ocean floor is 800 m at this point.
Calculate the height of the chimney as a percentage of the ocean depth.
7.5%
State the small molecules that make up lipids
fatty acids and glycerol
State the meaning of crustaceans
a marine invertebrate group with a hard exoskeleton, ten jointed legs and a nauplius larval stage
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
State the term meaning symbiotic, photosynthetic dinoflagellates living within the tissues of many invertebrates
zooxanthellae
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
State the term that means the ratio of any two major ions dissolved in seawater is constant
principle of constant proportions
State the term meaning the benthic, or bottom, zone between the highest and lowest spring tide water marks on a shoreline; also referred to as the intertidal zone
littoral zone
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
State the term meaning a commensal relationship where one organism attaches itself to another in order to travel
phoresis
State the meaning of keystone species
an organism that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions; without keystone species the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether
State the meaning of ocean acidification
a process where the pH of the ocean is reduced over an extended period of time; generally attributed to a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
State the meaning of specific heat capacity
the heat required to raise the temperature of the unit mass of a given substance by one degree Celsius
State the meaning of lithosphere
the outermost layer of the earth's crust
State the term meaning a diagram that shows the biomass present in each trophic level of a food chain
pyramid of biomass
Describe how carbon in fossil fuels may be returned to the atmosphere.
drilling / extraction (from ocean / sea floor) ; combustion / burning ; (combustion / burning releases) carbon dioxide
State the meaning of coral bleaching
whitening of coral that results from the loss of a coral's symbiotic zooxanthellae
State the meaning of the water column
a vertical section of water from the surface to the bottom
State the term meaning large-scale ocean circulation caused by density differences due to temperature and salinity changes in the world's ocean
Thermohaline circulation
State the meaning of assimilation
the conversion of a nutrient into a useable form that can be incorporated into the tissues of an organism
Biodiversity can be considered at three different levels.
Describe the three different levels of biodiversity and explain why all three levels should be considered.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
genetic diversity ; which is the variation in the genes / DNA / alleles / genotypes ; within a species ;
species diversity ; which is the number of species ; and also their relative abundance ;
ecological diversity ; which is variation in ecosystems on a regional + global level ;
no single level gives full measure of biodiversity ; allows biodiversity to be considered at a global level and at an individual species level ; all three levels are linked / interrelated ; highlights the importance of every species in a stable ecosystem
State the meaning of viviparous reproduction
[plants] a reproductive strategy where the seed develops into a young plant while still attached to the parent plant