Introduction to Marine Biology& OceanographyBlue Planet: A Natural History of Oceans

Why Study Marine Biology?

● What is Oceanography?○ Study of the physical, chemical, and

biological properties of the ocean

● What is Marine Biology?○ Study of the marine organisms and their

behaviors/interactions with their environment

Why Study Marine Biology?

● Oceans make up ~71% of the Earth's surface and contain ~96.5% of all Earth’s water

● The ocean is “The Final Frontier”○ NOAA estimates that 95% of the ocean and 99% of the

ocean floor are unexplored

● Oceans impact our weather, food supply and terrestrial habitats - just to name a few!

Early Marine Science

Greek naturalist, Aristotle● 384 - 322 BCE● Considered to be the very first marine scientist● Key findings:

○ Recognized cetaceans as mammals○ Marine vertebrate are either oviparous or viviparous

Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder● 23-79 CE● Naturalis Historia

○ 37 Volumes

Early Marine Science

Lack of research during the Middle Ages● 800 - 1400 CE● Time of intellectual darkness● Became an illiterate society● Believed Earth was flat● Only voyaging Europeans were

Vikings

Early Marine Science

James Cook, English sea captain● Made scientific observations on his

travels● Began exploring oceans in 1768● First European to see Antarctica, and

land on Hawaii, New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands

Early Marine Science

Charles Darwin, English naturalist● HMS Beagle, 1831● Described atolls

○ Rings of coral reefs● Studied plankton and

barnacles

Modern Marine Science

Oceanography Explosion● Post industrial revolution● Steam engines and iron

ships● Development of diesel

engine, electric motor and lead-acid battery lead to submersibles

● Countries with increased wealth were able to fund more research

● Technology drives modern marine research○ Ie. computers,

internet, data repositories

Modern Marine Science

British Challenger Expedition● 1872-1876● First expedition entirely devoted to marine science● Sailed nearly 90,000 miles● Key discoveries:

○ Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Mariana Trench○ Organisms in deep ocean○ Sampled and illustrated plankton○ Cataloged and identified 715 new genera and 4717

new species

British Challenger Expedition

Modern Marine Science

American marine research centers● The Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods & Woods

Hole Oceanographic Inst., MA○ Founded in 1888

● Scripps Institution of Oceanography, CA○ Founded in 1903

● Friday Harbor Laboratories, WA○ Founded in 1904

Field Tools & Technology

Field Tools and Technology

Submersibles● Bathysphere

○ Steel ball with window and umbilical

○ Vertical movement only

○ 1932 Beebe and Barton reached 661 meters

Field Tools and Technology

Submersibles● Bathyscaphe

○ Attached to large float○ Limited horizontal

movement○ Deep depths

■ Trieste traveled to bottom of the Challenger Deep piloted by Piccard & Walsh

Field Tools and Technology

Submersibles● Deep-diving

○ 2-3 person vessel○ Moderate-Deep Depths○ Good horizontal movement○ No float tank○ Robotic arms○ Alvin - discovered the Titanic

Field Tools and Technology

Self-Contained Diving● Hard-hat (helmet)

○ 1840s○ Heavy○ Required support team/vessel○ Not practical for research

■ Good for underwater labor

Field Tools and Technology

Self-Contained Diving● First workable

scuba introduced in 1878 by Henry Fleuss

Field Tools and Technology

Field Tools and Technology

Self-Contained Diving● Modern SCUBA system

○ Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan developed in 1943

○ Compressed air provided when diver inhales

○ Easy to use, lightweight, simple

Field Tools and Technology

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs)● Small, unmanned submarine● Has propellers, video camera, and umbilical● Operator at surface● Can have arms, claws, and other tools

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUVs)● Untethered robotic device● Self-contained power system and computer● Maneuverable in 3 dimensions

Field Tools and Technology

Satellite Telemetry● Developed in the 1980s● Tracks movements

○ Especially helpful for tracking migratory patterns

Field Tools and Technology

Seine Nets● Fishing net● Hangs vertically in

the water with weighted bottom

Field Tools and Technology

Secchi Disc● 8” disk with alternating

black and white quadrants

● Lowered into water until no longer visible○ Secchi depth

● Measures transparency of water

Field Tools and Technology

CTD Rosette● Tool for collecting water samples at multiple

depths and locations

● Measures multiple variables at once: Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD)

○ Bering Sea Expedition○ Western Atlantic○ Denmark Strait, Near Greenland