Big Idea The ocean is important yet relatively unexplored
The Science of Marine Biology nantucketwaterfrontnews.blogspot.com/2007/09/...
Marine Biology Study of all living things in the ocean Involves chemistry, earth science, physics and biology
Chemistry of Ocean Water Amount of dissolved materials-gases, salts, nutrients Novel compounds made by marine organisms- many marine animals cope with their world chemically Marine pollution and climate change -How atmosphere’s CO 2 increases ocean acidity Chemical cycles-How materials are cycled through the oceans
Chemistry Example- Researching changing pH of the oceans and its effect on marine life
Earth Science Plate tectonics – Volcanoes, earthquakes, sea floor spreading, subduction zones all affect the shape of the ocean basins Coastal processes – Waves and wind, storms all change the shape of our coastlines
Earth Science beneath-the-pacific-ocean.html beneath-the-pacific-ocean.html Ex- Mapping the sea floor with sonar and discovering new volcanoes
Aug-Oct 2006
Physics Motion in the ocean-currents, waves, tides – Move heat energy and materials around the ocean basins Interaction between the ocean surface and atmosphere – Climate control, water cycle and earth’s energy budget
Physics Modeling underwater robot movement on the movement of sting rays-which swim very efficiently
Biology Ex.-Recent discovery of fluorescent fish species and possible uses in research
Importance of the Oceans Source of food – 16% of all animal protein consumed worldwide comes from the oceans – We are catching fish faster than they can reproduce – 60-70% of fish types are in danger
r.php Estimates that 8-25% of what is caught is bycatch that is discarded
Importance of the Oceans Source of medicine – Vitamin A and D from cod liver oil – antibiotics from algae – heart rate controllers from some fish venom, etc.
Importance of the Oceans Source of raw materials – Oil, natural gas Drilling through the crust offshore – Minerals, rare earth metals Interest in mining or vacuuming up materials from the seabed – Environmental risks from these activities make both somewhat controversial
Importance of the Oceans Recreation and Tourism – 6.3 billion dollars in Monmouth and Ocean county in 2012 – Revenue down 20-40% since Hurricane Sandy tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSn1vtkMqLVQtNQ8bLrZJDVUudc4jUQknl4C97ITZkkyF pf0hIB tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXv7G4PyHrKRcxLszC09GGQq0Lw9NfAT3sDyYWMln R213E1R9B
Importance of the Oceans Animal Models for Research – Squid…..nervous system “Smart squid may unlock the secret of how animals and people learn” – Horseshoe crabs…..sight "20/20 Foresight: Studying Vision of Horseshoe Crabs." Robert Bazell, correspondent. NBC Today Show. NBCUniversal Media. 24 Sep NBC Learn. Web. 5 September 2012.
Can we put a number on it??? Annual value of ocean resources is about 20 trillion dollars
Importance of the Oceans Climate Control – Cycles heat, water and CO2 – Complex phenomena like El Nino and the North Atlantic Oscillation are caused by the ocean atmosphere connection Atmospheric Connection – Gases are continuously moving between ocean and atmosphere – Ocean phytoplankton account for 90% of world oxygen production
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The Historyof Marine Biology
Coastal people of every culture since the beginning of time have accumulated knowledge of the oceans – Stone age- evidence of early fishing practices – Egyptians- Hieroglyphic warnings not to eat puffer fish – Early Greeks- Used electric sting ray for electric shock therapy – Aristotle- first marine biologist ie- first written observations of marine life
Early navigation and exploration aided in the knowledge of our oceans – Early maps… Ancient Pacific Islanders 3 dimensional maps of sticks, shells and string – First navigators ( BC) Phoenicians- circumnavigate Africa, built lighthouses…) – Vikings (~1000 AD) Discovered N America – Arab traders (1100’s AD) Amassed knowledge of winds and currents
European exploration from the Renaissance on was for trade and then curiosity Mid 17 th to 18 th century – James Cook Used a chronometer (and accurate timepiece)and knowledge of latitude and longitude to make accurate maps Mapped out many islands in the South Pacific – Benjamin Franklin Mapped out the Gulf Stream current in the Atlantic Ocean using observations from merchant ships
Comparing maps of Gulf Stream windows2universe.org
19 th Century Exploration for pure science Charles Darwin (HMS Beagle) – Collection and recorded observations of animal and plant life from west coast of South America including barnacles – Theory of Natural Selection – Theory of formation of coral atolls
19 th Century Exploration for pure science Edward Forbes – Founder of the science of marine biology Charles Thompson (HMS Challenger) – Founder of oceanography – Voyage collected sediment from ocean floor, water samples, collected and described 4700 species of marine life, recorded data on ocean including temperature, pressure, tides and wave action
20 th Century to present-Long term studies of marine life Marine labs- permanent facilities for research – Ex. NOAA labs in Woods Hole Mass. Sandy Hook NJ James J Howard Lab Sandy Hook, NJ nefsc.noaa.gov
Marine Science Today Less than 5% of ocean has been explored Advances in technology have expanded our understanding of the oceans – Study ocean from space to the deepest depths Problem solving approach of the scientific method is used to conduct research
Technology is used for Transportation to study area Observing and counting Collecting organisms Measuring physical properties Studying movement Identifying and cataloging Compiling and analyzing data
ToolWhere it’s usedHow it worksData it collectsExamples/Other Remote sensorsSatellites that orbit the Earth in space and observe the planet without any contact Passively collects information that is acoustic, photographic or EM spectrum and sends back information to computers temperature, ice cover, ocean productivity, sea surface height TOPEX/ Poseidon SEASTAR
ToolWhere it’s usedHow it worksData it collectsExamples/Other SubmersiblesCan dive to depths of 6500 m if manned and more if robotic Overcome bouyancy by filling empty chambers with water Used to observe, record and collect samples from deep ocean habitats. Used to recover and explore wrecks Trieste and Alvin -manned Jason and Argo- robotic Also called ROVs-remote operated vehicles
ToolWhere it’s usedHow it worksData it collectsExamples/Other SCUBA- A portable apparatus containing compressed air and used for breathing under water. Deepest dive was 135 m Divers breathe air from a compressed air tank and are able to stay underwater for several hours Aquanaut can conduct research underwater as if in a laboratory Divers must be careful when ascending. Ascending too quickly can lead to “the bends”
ToolWhere it’s usedHow it worksData it collectsExamples/Other TagsAttached to animals Records information and either remotely reports data or needs to be physically removed and data recovered Record video on a camera, collect data on the physical environment. Crittercam
SCUBA A portable apparatus containing compressed air and used for breathing under water. scuba
ROV Remotely operated, robotic submersible
submersible Submergible. n. A vessel capable of operating or remaining under water. submersible submersible
Satellite An object launched to orbit Earth
chronometer An exceptionally precise timepiece
Unit Activities Future shark Critter cam movie El nino activity / Topex poiseidon Ocean drilling movie Earth Science oceans Poster Threats to the Ocean HW Study guide