Big Idea

The ocean is important yet relatively unexplored

The Science of Marine Biology

http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/enri/aset/images/sea-otter.jpghttp://www.sun-and-surf-scuba-diving.com/images/scuba-diver-001.jpgnantucketwaterfrontnews.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 CO2 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

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/WOA05_GLODAP_del_pH_AYool.png

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

• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/the-largest-volcano-on-earth-discovered-beneath-the-pacific-ocean.html

Ex- Mapping the sea floor with sonar and discovering new volcanoes

• Aug-Oct 2006

http://coastalchange.ucsd.edu/st3_basics/beaches.html

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

• http://images.sciencedaily.com/2013/11/131113152534-large.jpg

Modeling underwater robot movement on the movement of sting rays-which swim very efficiently

Biology

• http://images.sciencedaily.com/2014/01/140109004259.jpg

Ex.-Recent discovery offluorescent 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

http://www.sflorg.com/ear/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/imear102908-01-01.jpg

http://scienceblogs.com/shiftingbaselines/2007/06/national_fisheries_institute_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.

http://www.practicaltruisms.com/Images/Taceva%20Page%20Images/CodLiver-.jpg

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

http://www.labucketbrigade.org/img/original/offshore%20drilling.jpg

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

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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. 1984. 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

wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/thumb

The Historyof Marine Biology

http://www.siphonophores.org/images/3232_600.jpg

http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu/Education/Learning_Resources/Challenger/vessel2.php

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 (1200-250 BC)• Phoenicians- circumnavigate Africa, built

lighthouses…)

– Vikings (~1000 AD)• Discovered N America

– Arab traders (1100’s AD)• Amassed knowledge of winds and currents

http://thenonist.com/images/uploads/stckchrt11.jpg

European exploration from the Renaissance on was for trade and then

curiosity • Mid 17th to 18th 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

19th 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

19th 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

20th 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 LabSandy 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

Tool Where it’s used How it works Data it collects Examples/Other

Remote sensors

Satellites 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

Tool Where it’s used

How it works Data it collects

Examples/Other

Submersibles

Can 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 andAlvin -manned

Jason and Argo-roboticAlso called ROVs-remote operated vehicles

Tool Where it’s used

How it works Data it collects

Examples/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”

Tool Where it’s used

How it works Data it collects

Examples/Other

Tags Attached 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.

www.thefreedictionary.com/scuba

ROV

• Remotely operated, robotic submersible

submersible

• Submergible. n. A vessel capable of operating or remaining under water.

• www.thefreedictionary.com/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