Intro to 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 “It is well established among researchers that the uptake of increased amounts of carbon dioxide will make ocean water more acidic as the gas dissolves to create carbonic acid. Ocean chemistry is changing 100 times more rapidly than in the 650,000 years that preceded the modern industrial era and since the late 1980s, researchers at Scripps Oceanography and others have recorded an overall drop in the pH of the oceans from 8.16 to 8.05.” University of California/San Diego. "Global Scientists Draw Attention To Threat Of Ocean Acidification." ScienceDaily 5 February June Coral Reef Growth Potential…

Biology “For the first time in waters surrounding New York City, the beckoning calls of endangered fin, humpback and North Atlantic right whales have been recorded, according to experts…’This is an exciting time for New Yorkers. Just think, just miles from the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall and Times Square, the great whales are singing,’ says Chris Clark, … ‘These are some of the largest and rarest animals on this planet trying to make a living just a few miles from New York's shores. It just goes to show us that there are many important and wonderful discoveries to be made about the living world right here, right in our back yards.’" Cornell University. "Whale Songs Are Heard For First Time Around New York City Waters." ScienceDaily 17 September June animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/right-whale.jpg

Physics “The Greenland Ice Sheet mass balance is changing as a response to the altered climatic state,” said Mernild. “This is faster than expected. This affects freshwater runoff input to the North Atlantic Ocean, and plays an important role in determining the global sea level rise and global ocean thermohaline circulation.” This text derived from:

Sources of wealth Source of food –16% of all animal protein consumed worldwide –We are catching fish faster than they can reproduce –60-70% of fish types are in danger

Sources of wealth Source of medicine –Vitamin A and D from cod liver oil –antibiotics from algae –heart rate controllers from some fish venom, etc.)

raw materials –Oil, natural gas, minerals recreation and tourism animal models for research –Squid…..nervous system –Horseshoe crabs…..sight –Sea urchins….reproduction Sources of wealth

Harmful effects of marine organisms competition for resources –Fishing, territory some cause disease –Harmful algae blooms interference with weapons and technology –Sonar linked to marine mammal stranding

More than half of our oxygen comes from the ocean Creating new landforms –beaches, islands, coastlines 20 trillion dollars worth of resources come from the oceans Determining the nature of our planet

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Determining the nature of our planet Aug-Oct 2006