Marine Biomes & Marine Impacts
What is the salinity concentration of marine biomes?
3%
What are the main producers in the ocean?
Phytoplankton
What is a point source pollution?
Pollution that can be traced back to a specific point
What are the 3 things do wetlands need to be considered a wetland?
1) Have water either permanently or seasonally
2) Hydric soil
3) Hydrophytic vegetation
What are the numerical ranges of acids and bases?
Acids 0-7
Bases 8-14
Define net primary productivity.
What is the formula for net primary productivity?
- The amount of organic matter produced by photosynthetic organisms after accounting for their respiration rates
- Net primary productivity = gross primary production - cellular respiration
Name 2 areas with low productivity
1) Open oceans/deep water
2) Tropical seas
What kind of pollution do you think is the most detrimental? Back your claim
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Describes bogs and marshes
Bogs - Peat (spongy moss) dominates; acidic and nutrient-poor.
Marshes - Grassy, found in both freshwater and saltwater areas.
What causes coral bleaching?
Increased water temperature, changes in water chemistry, and pollution.
What are examples of calcifiers? How are calcifiers impacted by ocean acidification?
Oysters, clams, corals; any organism that uses carbonate to form their shells and skeletons.
When carbonate is used to react with increasing carbon dioxide levels, there is less available for these organisms to use.
What 4 factors impact productivity?
1) Light availability
2) Nutrient availability
3) Temperature
4) Upwelling
What is thermal pollution and how does it impact dissolved oxygen levels?
Cold water holds more dissolved gases than warm water, there is a decrease in dissolved oxygen. Hot water from power plants or factories is released into rivers or oceans. Urban runoff can cause thermal pollution with sunlight heating runoff water
Surprise! Tell me one interesting thing you learned specifically from the Chasing Coral documentary
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Why did the coral glow in Chasing Coral?
They were creating a chemical sunscreen to prtect themselves from the heat.
What adaptations do organisms in the intertidal zone need to survive?
- Attach to substrate
- Tolerate large range of air and water levels
Explain why coastal waters are more productive than open oceans
Coastal waters are shallower with more sunlight and nutrients for photosynthesis to take place. The open ocean has little sunlight (the light can only penetrate so far) and nutrients are the limiting factor.
Describe sediment pollution and explain how it can impact coral reefs
Dirt, sand, or silt washes into water due to construction or deforestation. Blocks sunlight, smothers coral reefs, and harms fish eggs.
Describe threats facing our wetlands
They are being used as draining and dumping ground for farming or buildings. Pollution from nearby cities or farms. Climate change (rising sea levels or droughts)
What are the colorful algae inside corals called?
Zooxanthellae
Discuss the interconnectedness of climate change, coral bleaching, and ocean acidification
- Climate change increases ocean temperature and CO2 absorption
- Leads to more acidic oceans
- Causes stress on coral reefs, leading to bleaching
- Bleached corals are less able to absorb CO2, further accelerating the cycle
- Consequences: Threatens biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal protection
What role does primary productivity plan in the marine food webs?
As producers, the put oxygen into the ocean. They act as food for zooplankton, small fish, and eventually large animals like whales. This then supports the fishing industry (like tuna, sardines, and cod). Helps the carbon cycle—phytoplankton take in carbon dioxide, which helps slow climate change.
What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and why are they harmful?
They are a type of chemical pollution that are not easy to break down. They are carried up the food chain and can transfer all the way up to humans.
How do wetlands benefit the environment? (3 ways)
- Biodiversity hotspots
- Water filtration
- Flood control
- Climate regulation
- Nursery grounds
Fully explain the process/4 steps of ocean acidification
1) CO2 dissolves in seawater
2) That CO2 forms carbonic acid (H2CO3)
3) Carbonic acid breaks down into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions
4) Carbonate reacts with the excess hydrogen ions decreasing pH