1. The Science of Marine Biology
Chapter 1
The Science of Marine Biology

2. Marine Biology
The scientific study of the organisms that live in the sea

3. Practical Reasons to study marine biology
Vast source of human wealth
food, medicines and raw materials
Recreation to millions
Supports tourism
Some marine organisms
cause problems by causing
disease or attacking people

4. Harm us indirectly by injuring or killing other marine organisms that we value for food or other purposes
Erode piers, walls and other structures, foul ship bottoms and clog pipes

5. Fundamental Reasons to study Marine Biology
Marine life determines the very nature of our planet
Produce much of the oxygen they breathe
Regulate earth’s climate
Shorelines are protected and shaped by marine life
Some marine organisms create new land

6. Ocean’s living systems are worth more than $20 trillion a year

7. We must learn all we can about marine life
To make both full and wise use of the sea’s living resources
To solve the problems marine organisms create
Predict the effects of human activities on the life of the sea
Marine organisms provide clues to earth’s past and the history of life and our own bodies

8. The Science of Marine Biology

9. Science of biology applied to the sea
Includes basic chemistry
The study of whole organisms, the way they behave or where they live and why
Global perspective

10. Marine biology is closely related to oceanography (the scientific study of the oceans)
Geological oceanographers – study the sea floor
Chemical oceanographers – study ocean chemistry

11. Physical oceanographers – study waves, tides, currents, and other physical aspects of the sea
Biological oceanography – closely related to marine biology – can be considered the same thing

12. The History of Marine Biology

13. People started learning about marine life forms as soon as they saw the ocean
Coastal people in virtually ever culture developed a store of practical knowledge about marine life and the oceans

14. Knowledge of the ocean and its organisms developed as people gained skills in seamanship and navigation

15. Greek philosopher Aristotle (4th century BC) is considered by many to the first marine biologist
He described many forms of marine life and many of his descriptions are still valid

16. Dark Ages Little learning and discovery occurred
995 AD Leif Eriksson discovered Vinland (N. Am.)
Arab traders were active on the ocean at this time – learned about wind and current patterns and monsoons

17. Renaissance Europeans began to investigate the world around them
1492 – Columbus – discovers “New World”
1519 – Magellan – sailed around the globe
Fairly accurate maps were created during this time

18. Captain James Cook – English sea captain
Was one of the first to make scientific observations along the way and to include a full-time naturalist among his crew
First to use a chronometer – accurate time piece
Brought back specimens of plants and animals

19. 19th Century
Common for vessels to take a naturalist along to collect and study the life forms that were encountered

20. 1831- HMS Beagle – Charles Darwin goes on a 5 year voyage – develops the theory of evolution by natural selection
Darwin explain how atolls form and used nets to collect plankton and studied barnacles in detail

21. The Challenger Expedition
Middle of the 19th century – voyages are taken just to study the oceans
                                                               The natural history lab
                             The sampling deck

22. Edward Forbes
’s – carried extensive dredging of the sea floor – most influential marine biologist of his day
Discovered many previously unknown organisms
Recognized that sea life is different at different depths
Inspired new interest in the life of the sea floor

23. Charles Wyville Thompson
Lead the first major oceanographic expedition
HMS Challenger
British navy supplied the ship
The ship was outfitted for the expedition with the best scientific equipment of the day

24. December 1872 the Challenger set off on its 3 ½ year voyage
The crew sailed around the world and gathered information and collected samples
Volume of data collected was enormous

25. It took 19 years to publish all the data collected
The data filled up 50 thick volumes
The challenger brought back more information about the ocean than had ever been recorded in all previous human history

26. The expedition set new standards for studying the ocean
Measurements were made systematically and carefully and meticulous records were kept
Laid the foundations of modern marine science

27. Growth of Marine Labs

28. Biologists began to work at the seashore
Allowed for long term observations and experiments that were not possible on the ship

29. Henri Milne Edwards and Victor Andouin – 1826 – French – began to make visits to the shore and study the life there

30. Permanent laboratories dedicated to the study of marine life were established
First lab – Stazione Zoologica – 1872 – Naples, Italy
Marine Biological Society of the United Kingdom – 1879 – Plymouth, England
First major American Lab – Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass

31. World War II Had a major effect on the development of marine biology
Sonar (sound navigation radar) – developed in response to the growing importance of submarine warfare
Sonar – based on the detection of underwater echoes

32. Understanding the sounds produced by marine mammals now became a matter of national security

33. Years after World War II
Refinement of SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus)
Basic technology used in SCUBA was developed by French engineer Emile Gagnan
Jacques Cousteau modified the apparatus, using it to breathe compressed air under water

34. Cousteau devoted his life to scuba diving and the oceans
Films, books and television programs inspired a fascination with the ocean
Also alerted people to the threats to the health of the marine environment

35. Marine Biology Today
High tech subs can descend to the deepest parts of the ocean
Variety of odd looking vessels provide specialized facilities for marine scientists
Underwater robots take photos, make measurements and collect samples in the ocean depths

36. ROV’s (remotely operated vehicles) are controlled from the surface
AUV’s (autonomous underwater vehicles) are preprogrammed to do their jobs independently of direct human control

37. Computers allow scientists to rapidly analyze huge amounts of information
Satellites orbit the earth peering down into the ocean – can capture the big picture

38. Satellites can measure:
temperature of the sea surface
track ocean currents
determine the abundance and kinds of organisms present
monitor human impacts of the ocean

39. Remote Sensing Technology
Used to study the earth and its oceans from afar
Track the migrations of whales
Electronic buoys travel in oil spills to monitor the path the oil takes