Who is the father of marine biology
Aristotle
what was known as the supercontinent during the late time periods
Pangaea
What primarly drives surface currents
wind
What is an invertebrate
ANimal with no backbone
When an environment is at the point at which it cannot contain anymore organisms, it is known as?
Carrying Cappacity
What are 2 biotic and 2 abiotic factors
biotic: fish, coral, penguins, mangroves
abiotic: sunlight, wind, soil, temperature
How do we give time a name on the geologic time scale?
The largest sections are “Eons”
“Eons” are divided into “Eras”
“Eras” are divided into “Periods”
“Periods” are divided into “Epochs” which is the smallest unit of geological time scale
What are two things that influence salinity
Precipitation: Increases salinity
Ice melting: decreases salinity
What are the three different skeletons discussed in class
Hydrostatic
Endoskeleton
Exoskeleton
What is the difference between oceanic and continental crust
Continental crust “floats” higher on the mantle → forms land.
Oceanic crust is thinner and denser → forms the ocean floor.
What is the difference between the HMS Beagle and the HMS Challenger
HMS Beagle: first expedition, 5 year voyage, Charles Darwin on the theory of evolution, sailed close to shore
HMS Challenger: First major scientific expedition that lasted 3.5 years, discovered 4,000 new species, is considered the birth of oceanography, mapped the ocean floor
What are the 3 components that make up the ocean basin
Describe the three different stratification layers
The thermocline is the layer in the ocean where temperature changes most rapidly with depth.
The halocline is the layer where salinity changes rapidly with depth
The pycnocline is where water density changes significantly with depth
What are the 3 types of symmetry? Give an example of what phylum belongs to the three
Asymmetrical: sponges
Radial: cnidaria, Echinodermata
bilateral: Arthropoda, mollusca
Draw and label the different components of a wave
crest, trough, wavelength, wave height
What are the definitions of: species, population, community, and ecosystem
Species- A group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring Example: Clownfish
Population- All members of the same species living in a specific area Example: A school of clownfish
Community- Different populations of species living and interacting in the same area Example: Clownfish, corals, sea anemones, and cleaner shrimp living together on a reef
Ecosystem- A community plus the nonliving (abiotic) environment (e.g., water, sunlight, rocks) Example: A coral reef ecosystem, including the water’s temperature, salinity, and sunlight

Draw and label the 4 moon phases at both spring and neap tides
soon - moon -earth: spring (new and full)
Write out all 5 phylum's, provide an example of an animal in each phylum and tell me its symmetry and reproduction
Porifera (sponges)- asymmetrical and both
Cnidaria (jellyfish, coral, anenome)- radial and both
Echinodermata (sea star, sea urchin) - radial and sexual
Arthropoda (crabs, lobsters) - bilateral and sexual
Mollusca (clams, squid) - bilateral and sexual
What are the 4 classes of Phylum mollusca? Provide an example for each
Class polyplacophora: chiton
Class gastropoda: sea hare
Class Bivalvia: quahog
Class Cephalopoda: octopus
What are the 6 trophic levels in order with an example of each
primary producer: algae
Primary consumer: zooplankton
Secondary consumer: arctic fish
Tertiary consumer: Seal
Apex predator: Great white shark
Decomposer: worm
Describe and explain the three different types of plates boundaries and how they move while giving an example of each
Convergent: when plates collide with one another, can be oceanic and oceanic, oceanic and continental, or continental and continental
EX: himalayans
Divergent: when plates move away form one another
EX: Mid atlantic ridge
Transform: When two plates slide past one another
EX: san andreas fault
Compare waves and ocean currents by describing how each forms, how each moves water or energy, and the forces that affect their direction and strength
Waves and currents are both movements in the ocean, but they form in different ways and move water and energy differently. Waves are mainly created by wind blowing across the surface of the ocean. The wind transfers energy to the water, creating a circular motion called orbital motion, where the water itself mostly stays in place while the energy travels forward. Waves are affected by wind speed, how long the wind blows, and the distance the wind travels over water (fetch). Waves also change as they approach the shore—slowing down, increasing in height, and eventually breaking.
Currents, on the other hand, involve the movement of actual water. There are two main types: surface currents and deep-water currents. Surface currents are driven by global winds, the Coriolis effect, and the shapes of continents. They create large rotating systems called gyres. Deep-water currents are caused by differences in water density related to temperature and salinity—this is called thermohaline circulation. These deep currents form part of the “global conveyor belt” that moves water around the entire planet.
Overall, waves move energy, and currents move water. Both are influenced by wind, Earth’s rotation, and the ocean floor, but in different ways and on different scales.
Correctly compare and contrast water flow through sponges and echinoderms
Sponges (Phylum Porifera): Sponges are simple, porous animals that rely on water flow to feed, breathe, and remove waste. Water enters through tiny pores called ostia, moves through a central cavity called the spongocoel, and exits through a large opening called the osculum. The flow is generated by flagellated cells called choanocytes, which beat their flagella to create a current. This water movement allows sponges to filter feed, capturing tiny particles and plankton from the water.
Echinoderms (Phylum Echinodermata): Echinoderms, like sea stars and sea urchins, have a water vascular system, which is a network of canals filled with seawater. Water enters through the madreporite, flows through canals, and reaches the tube feet, which use hydraulic pressure for movement, feeding, and respiration. Unlike sponges, echinoderm water flow is not primarily for feeding; instead, it is used for locomotion, manipulating food, and gas exchange.
Write out all 5 phylum's. I would like to know the following about each:
- Body cavity
- Specialized cells/function
-Nervous system
- Skeletal system
Porifera (acoelomate, none, none)
Cnidaria (acoelomate, stinging cells, nerve net)
Echinodermata (acoelomate, water vascular system/regeneration, nerve ring and nerve net)
Arthropoda (coelomate, segmentation/jointed appendages, CNS)
Mollusca (coelomate, radula, mantle, CNS)