TuesdayMarch 6, 2012

(Marine Life Zones; Ocean Productivity)

The Launch PadTuesday, 3/6/12

Name and briefly describe the three classifications of marine organisms.

Plankton (floaters) include all marine organisms that drift with ocean currents.

Nekton (swimmers) include all animals capable of moving independently of the ocean currents, by swimming or other means

of propulsion.

Benthos (bottom dwellers) describe organisms living on or in the ocean bottom.

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Quiz 20 S1 2/17 2/17 2/24 3/9Lab – Metamorphic

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Quiz 21 S2 2/24 2/24 2/24 3/9

TELPAS Writing Sample F 2/28 2/28 3/1 3/7

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Marine Life Zones

Marine Life Zones

Oceanic ProductivitySome regions of the oceans are teeming with life, while other

areas seem barren.The reason for this is related to

the amount of primary productivity in various parts of

the oceans.Primary productivity is the amount of carbon fixed by

organisms through the synthesis of organic matter using energy

derived from solar radiation (photosynthesis) or chemical reactions (chemosynthesis.)

Oceanic ProductivityTwo factors influence a region’s photosynthetic

productivity:the availability of

nutrients the amount of solar

radiation The most abundant

marine life exists where there is a plentiful supply of nutrients and sunlight.

Oceanic ProductivityPrimary ocean productivity is the

production of organic compounds from atmospheric or aquatic carbon dioxide,

principally through the process of photosynthesis.

Almost all life on earth is directly or indirectly reliant on primary production.

The organisms responsible for primary production are known as primary

producers or autotrophs, and form the base of the food chain.

In the oceans, photosynthetic phytoplankton are primarily

responsible for primary production.

At the base of the ocean food web are single-celled algae and other plant-like organisms known as phytoplankton. Like plants on land, phytoplankton use chlorophyll and other light-harvesting pigments to carry out photosynthesis, absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide to

produce sugars for fuel. Chlorophyll in the water changes the way it reflects and absorbs sunlight, allowing scientists to map the amount and location of phytoplankton. These

measurements give scientists valuable insights into the health of the ocean environment, and help scientists study the ocean carbon cycle.

Oceanic ProductivityProductivity in Polar Oceans

Because of nutrients rising from deeper water, high-latitude surface waters

have high nutrient concentrations.

However, low solar energy limits photosynthetic

productivity.

Report on Jacques Cousteau and the Calypso