Quiz 1 Flashcards
(40 cards)
Plankton
Passively drifting or weakly swimming organisms that are not independent from of currents. Includes mostly microscopic algae, protozoa, and larval forms of animals
Phytoplankton
Algal plankton. One of the most important communities of primary producers in the ocean
Zooplankton
Animal plankton
Holoplankton
Organisms that spend their entire life as members of the plankton
Meroplankton
Planktonic larval forms of organisms that are members of the benthos or nekton as adults
Dinoflagellates
A single celled microscopic planktonic organism that may possess chlorophyll and belong to the phylum Pyrrophyta (autotrophic) or may ingest food belong to the class Mastigophora of the phylum Protozoa (heterotrophic)
Flagella
A flagellum is a projection of cells in the form of a whip that participates in the locomotion of single-celled organisms and in the movement of various substances in more complex organisms.
Diatoms
a class of algae that are contained in a microscopic shell called a test (silica)
Nekton
Pelagic animals such as adult squids, fish, and mammals that are active swimmers to the extent that they can determine their position in the ocean by swimming
Benthos
The forms of marine life that live on the ocean bottom
Deep scattering layer
A layer of marine organisms in the open ocean that scatter signals from an echo sounder. It migrates daily from depths of slightly over 100 meters at night to more than 800 meters during the day
Primary Productivity
The rate at which energy is stored by organisms through the formation of organic matter (carbon-based compounds) using energy derived from solar radiation (photosynthesis) or chemical reactions (chemosynthesis)
Photosynthesis
The process by which plants and algae produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in presence of chlorophyll, using light energy and releasing oxygen
Biomass
The total mass of a defined organism or group of organisms in a particular community or in the ocean as a whole
Chlorophyll
A group of green pigments that make it possible for plants to carry on photosynthesis
Euphotic zone
A layer that extends from the surface of the ocean to a depth where enough light exists to support photosynthesis, rarely deeper than 100 m
Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs)
A reddish-brown discoloration of surface water, usually in coastal areas, caused by high concentrations of microscopic organisms, usually dinoflagellates. It normally results from increased availability of certain nutrients. Toxins produced by the dinoflagellates may kill fish directly; decaying plant and animal remains or large populations of animals that migrate to the area of abundant plants may also deplete the surface waters of oxygen and cause asphyxiation of many animals.
Producer
the autotrophic component of an ecosystem that produces the food that supports the biocommunity
Consumer
An animal within an ecosystem that consumes the organic mass produced by the producers
Decomposer
Primarily bacteria that break down nonliving organic material, extract some of the products of decomposition for their own needs, and make available the compounds needed for primary production.
Suspension/Filter feeding
The process by which an organism obtains its food by filtering seawater to collect floating organisms to ingest. Also known as suspension feeding.
Deposit feeding
The process by which an organism feeds on food items that occur as deposits, including detritus and various detritus coated sediment
Carnivorous feeding
The process by which an organism feeds solely on on other animals as food items
Trophic level
A nourishment level in a food chain. Plant producers lowest level, followed by herbivores and a series of carnivores at the higher levels
