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Exploring Marine Biology World: From Molecules to Ecosystems

Dive into the biology of oceanic organisms, studying different levels from molecules to ecosystems. Explore coastal versus open ocean, shallow versus deep waters, and organismal versus environmental perspectives. Enhance your understanding of evolution, environmental interactions, and habitat uniqueness in the vast marine environment.

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Exploring Marine Biology World: From Molecules to Ecosystems

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  1. MARS 294Introduction to Marine Biology • Dr. Ron Kaufmann • kaufmann@sandiego.edu • rkaufmann@gmail.com • Shiley Center 274 (x5904) • Office Hrs: Mo 1:30-3:00 Th 2:30-4:30 Fr 12:30-2:00 • www.sandiego.edu/~kaufmann/mars294/mars294.html

  2. What is Marine Biology? • Biology of organisms inhabiting the ocean • Marine biologists study different things at different levels • Molecules  Ecosystems • Related to oceanography, particularly biological oceanography • Coastal vs. Open Ocean • Shallow vs. Deep Water • Perspective: Organismal vs. Environmental • Studying marine organisms requires understanding of • Principles of evolution (esp. natural selection) • Physical/chemical environment and interactions

  3. Ecology • “Ecology” from Greek “Oikos” (house) • Interactions among groups of organisms and between organisms and physical environment • Includes abiotic and biotic components • Physical • Chemical • Biological • Habitat – Location where organisms live • Unique combination of characteristics • Microhabitat

  4. Physical Environment • Ocean: ~71% of earth’s surface area • Largest volume of habitat on earth • Average depth ~3700 m • Marine habitat differs from terrestrial habitat in important ways • Three-dimensional

  5. Physical Environment • Sunlight • Quantity and quality related to physical characteristics of water • Intensity decreases with depth • Maximum penetration ~1000 m • Light penetration affects • Photosynthesis • Vision • Behavior • Spectral attenuation

  6. oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

  7. Physical Environment • Temperature • Varies predictably with latitude, depth • Consistent within a region and time period • Exception: intertidal areas

  8. Fig. 4-10

  9. Physical Environment • Temperature • Varies predictably with latitude, depth • Consistent within a region and time period • Exception: intertidal areas • Affects thermoregulation • Most marine organisms are ectotherms • Some animals are endotherms • Adaptations to retain heat • Affects species distributions • Polar • Cold temperate • Subtropical (warm temperate) • Tropical

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