Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the total duration of the oral presentation during the exam?
What is the total duration of the oral presentation during the exam?
Which components are necessary to include in the PowerPoint presentation?
Which components are necessary to include in the PowerPoint presentation?
What should be avoided when selecting an article for the exam?
What should be avoided when selecting an article for the exam?
What is required from students in the discussion segment of the exam?
What is required from students in the discussion segment of the exam?
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What is the recommended timing for students to be present before the exam?
What is the recommended timing for students to be present before the exam?
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Which aspect must students master in case of a modelling article?
Which aspect must students master in case of a modelling article?
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What should the focus of the article be in relation to the course?
What should the focus of the article be in relation to the course?
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What type of articles are considered challenging for the exam?
What type of articles are considered challenging for the exam?
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What is the primary language of instruction for the course?
What is the primary language of instruction for the course?
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If a student's mark for the oral exam is 6/20 and their practicals mark is 9/20, what will their final mark be?
If a student's mark for the oral exam is 6/20 and their practicals mark is 9/20, what will their final mark be?
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What is the value of the oral exam in the final mark calculation if both marks are above 8/20?
What is the value of the oral exam in the final mark calculation if both marks are above 8/20?
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What is required for a student to have their oral examination topic approved?
What is required for a student to have their oral examination topic approved?
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What is the size range of nanoplankton?
What is the size range of nanoplankton?
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What is one feature of the marine biology course mentioned?
What is one feature of the marine biology course mentioned?
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What constitutes the basis for further excursions during the master's program?
What constitutes the basis for further excursions during the master's program?
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Which type of phytoplankton is characterized by two flagella?
Which type of phytoplankton is characterized by two flagella?
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Which process primarily contributes to gross primary productivity?
Which process primarily contributes to gross primary productivity?
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Which of the following is true regarding the exam language for the course?
Which of the following is true regarding the exam language for the course?
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What outcome results from having either oral exam or practicals score below 8/20?
What outcome results from having either oral exam or practicals score below 8/20?
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What happens during harmful algal blooms?
What happens during harmful algal blooms?
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What is net primary productivity?
What is net primary productivity?
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What is the size classification of megaplankton?
What is the size classification of megaplankton?
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Which of the following can contribute to harmful algal blooms?
Which of the following can contribute to harmful algal blooms?
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What equation represents the process of photosynthesis?
What equation represents the process of photosynthesis?
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What is the equation for net productivity in an ecosystem?
What is the equation for net productivity in an ecosystem?
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What does the 14C method measure in primary producers?
What does the 14C method measure in primary producers?
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Which component is NOT directly involved in the light and dark bottle technique?
Which component is NOT directly involved in the light and dark bottle technique?
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What is the primary role of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?
What is the primary role of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?
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Which of the following factors can limit primary production in aquatic environments?
Which of the following factors can limit primary production in aquatic environments?
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What does the term 'critical depth' refer to in a primary production context?
What does the term 'critical depth' refer to in a primary production context?
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Which statement accurately describes the absorption of light in seawater?
Which statement accurately describes the absorption of light in seawater?
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What does 'mixed depth' refer to in relation to primary production?
What does 'mixed depth' refer to in relation to primary production?
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What role do primary producers play in the phosphorus cycle?
What role do primary producers play in the phosphorus cycle?
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How can phosphorus impact food chains?
How can phosphorus impact food chains?
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What is dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the context of the phosphorus cycle?
What is dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the context of the phosphorus cycle?
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What can limit diatom blooms according to the content?
What can limit diatom blooms according to the content?
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In what form is phosphorus primarily absorbed during the cycle?
In what form is phosphorus primarily absorbed during the cycle?
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What process occurs after the death of organisms in the phosphorus cycle?
What process occurs after the death of organisms in the phosphorus cycle?
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What is a consequence of herbivory in the phosphorus cycle?
What is a consequence of herbivory in the phosphorus cycle?
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What does 'detritus' refer to in the context of the phosphorus cycle?
What does 'detritus' refer to in the context of the phosphorus cycle?
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What is the role of ferredoxin in the process described?
What is the role of ferredoxin in the process described?
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Which of the following groups primarily consists of organisms that consume pico- and nanoplankton?
Which of the following groups primarily consists of organisms that consume pico- and nanoplankton?
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In the microbial loop, which organisms exert top-down control over bacteria?
In the microbial loop, which organisms exert top-down control over bacteria?
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What does the variable 'E' represent in the energy flow equation?
What does the variable 'E' represent in the energy flow equation?
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What type of plankton primarily contributes to over 50% of primary production?
What type of plankton primarily contributes to over 50% of primary production?
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Which of the following correctly describes the concentrations of nutrients in coastal zones?
Which of the following correctly describes the concentrations of nutrients in coastal zones?
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Which organisms are classified under nanoflagellates in the microbial loop?
Which organisms are classified under nanoflagellates in the microbial loop?
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In which aspect does the Sankey diagram depicted in the content function?
In which aspect does the Sankey diagram depicted in the content function?
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Study Notes
Course Information
- Course title: MARINE ECOLOGY
- Instructor: Anton Van de Putte
- Academic years: 2024-2025
Research Domains
- Domains cover different regions of Antarctica and surrounding areas
- Multiple marine protected areas (MPAs) are identified and studied
- Some domains involve current MPA proposals or draft scenarios
- Existing CCAMLR MPAs are also included
Contact Information
- Email: [email protected]
Course Schedule
- Dates and times for various lectures and excursions
- Locations for lectures (e.g., VUB, ULB, Ostend)
- Excursions with Simon Stevin University Ghent group
Species Distribution Models
- Models show distribution of Antarctic, broadly Antarctic, and sub-Antarctic species
- Visualizations are provided
SCAR Antarctic Biodiversity Portal
- Map of Antarctic biodiversity data available online
CCAMLR Structure
- CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) structure is presented
- Diagram of various working groups (e.g., Ecosystem Monitoring and Management, Fish Stock Assessment)
- Scientific Committee, Standing Committee, Commission, and Conservation Measures are shown
Examination
- Format: oral exam
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Dates: 13-14 and 20-21 January
- Preparation needed: Students are expected to prepare and critically analyse a recent scientific research article
- The article should cover ecological processes, effects of global change, connectivity, and marine environment related to the course
- Possible examination questions include impact of global change on coral reefs, chemical oceanography, or top-down control in benthic ecosystems
- Examples of study materials could include articles from Nature and Science
Exam Structure
- 10 minutes of introduction to the question
- 10 minutes of discussion about the subject of the paper
- 10 minutes of general questions for the course
Exam Strategy
- Review course content thoroughly
- Be prepared to apply the knowledge of the course to the material being analysed
- Be ready to discuss comparisons across topics (e.g., chemical oceanography and coral reefs)
Exam Article Examples
- Potential exam questions involve various ecological topics like fisheries impacting breeding sea-birds in the North Sea, controlling coral reef sea urchins (bottom-up or top-down), the impact of starfish introductions, and biotic factors in biodiversity control on sandy beaches.
Teaching Supports
- Books
- Slides are available for the course
- Contact the library for advanced course material
Marine Ecology Overview
- Marine, relating to or being found in the sea (oceans, seas, and estuaries)
- Ecology, the study of organisms and their interaction within their environment
Fundamentals of Biology and Ecology
- Ecology studies the relationships between organisms and their environment
- Includes physical, chemical, and biological processes
- Examined at various levels (e.g., individual organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems)
Ecosystem
- The concept of an ecosystem is explained
- Diagram depicts the flow of energy and interactions in an ecosystem.
Primary Production
- Definition of gross and net primary productivity
- Explanation of respiration and its relation to productivity
- Methods to measure primary productivity (e.g., light and dark bottle technique, 14C method)
New Sources of Oxygen
- Polymetallic nodules (found on sea floor) could be part of oxygen production, according to researchers
How Populations Grow
- Methods used to study population growth (e.g. R and K strategist)
R and K Strategist
- Explanation of r and K strategists as different categories of organisms
- Comparison of characteristics (e.g. lifespan, offspring investment)
Survivor Ship Curve
- A graph showing different types of organisms based on survivability,
Ecological Niche
- Ecological niche: abiotic and biotic factors affecting an organism's survival, growth, and reproduction
- Range of tolerance: optimal and less favourable environments, including upper and lower tolerance limits
Principle of Allocation
- Finite resources lead to trade-offs
- Zero-sum game
Pelagic Environment
- The pelagic zone (open sea) is defined
Neritic Province and Oceanic Province
- Explanation and mapping of pelagic zones along continental shelves and open oceans
Ocean Circulation (Recap)
- Surface circulation definition and explanation
- Thermohaline circulation definition and explanation
Surface Circulation
- Factors driving surface currents (e.g., Coriolis effect)
- Upwelling and downwelling processes
Coriolis Effect
- Explains the deflection of currents due to Earth's rotation (to the right in Northern Hemisphere, to the left in Southern Hemisphere)
Global Wind Patterns
- Explanation of global wind patterns, including the interactions with Earth's rotation and energy from the sun
Sea Surface Temperatures and Gyres
- Relation between sea surface temperatures and ocean currents
- Understanding gyres' (large circular ocean currents) patterns
Ekman Transport
- Explanation of wind-driven surface water movement, including the deflection due to Earth's rotation (Ekman spiral) and net water movement.
Up- and Downwelling
- Upwelling: rising water; and downwelling: sinking water
- Processes and locations, including coastal upwelling
Coastal Upwelling
- Mechanisms of coastal upwelling
- Locations around the world
Southern Ocean Upwelling
- Influence of westerlies on upwelling trends in the Southern Ocean.
Upwelling and Downwelling
- Descriptions and locations of upwelling and downwelling in different ocean areas around the world.
Thermohaline Circulation
- Definition and description of water density differences affecting ocean currents
- Water stratification by temperature and salinity
Latitudinal Variation
- Explanation of temperature variations in the ocean with latitude
- Deep-water temperature and salinity differences
Seasonal Variations
- Illustrations of seasonal variation in surface water temperatures and the effects on the thermocline
Global Thermohaline Circulation
- Diagram illustrating the global pattern of thermohaline circulation
Oceanic Divisions/Zones
- Different zones of the ocean (e.g., euphotic, dysphotic, aphotic) based on light penetration and their associated life
Simple Ecosystem
- Explanation of components of a simple marine ecosystem (primary producers—consumers—detritus & DOM)
Gases in the Oceans
- Composition of various gases in the air, total ocean, and surface ocean, displayed in a table
- Factors that influence gas solubility
Oxygen
- Dissolved oxygen levels in the ocean and the oxygen minimum layer (OML)
- Factors affecting oxygen levels in the ocean (e.g., primary productivity, respiration, deep water temperature)
Nitrogen and Nutrients
- Importance of nitrogen (N) and other nutrients for primary producers
- Vertical distribution of nitrogen
- Methods for measuring nitrogen and other nutrients.
Vertical Distribution of O2 and Nutrients
- Graph showing the variation of dissolved Oxygen & nutrients (e.g., PO4) across the ocean depth, differentiating various pelagic ocean zones (epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic)
Pelagic Ecosystems
- Key features of pelagic ecosystems are introduced.
Plankton
- Seston and plankton definition
- Plankton classifications (e.g. holoplankton, meroplankton), and examples.
Nekton
- Nekton definition and example organisms.
Phytoplankton
- Major phytoplankton groups (diatoms, dinoflagellates) and their characteristics
Harmful Algae Blooms
- Effects of harmful algae blooms on marine ecosystems, including toxin production, oxygen depletion, and release of harmful gases
- Types of harmful algal blooms (e.g., Cyanobacteria, Dinoflagellates, Diatoms).
Epipelagic
- Summary of primary production trends in this oceanic zone.
Primary Production
- Definitions of gross primary and net primary production
- Relation to respiration
- Methods (e.g., light and dark bottle technique, 14C method)
Standing Crop of Phytoplankton
- Definition and methodology of standing crop measurement
- Distinctions between standing crop and productivity
Primary Production (Limiting Factors)
- Factors controlling primary productivity (e.g., light, nutrients)
Light in the Ocean
- How light intensity changes with depth
- Factors affecting light penetration
Light
- Effects that light has on sea water and how this influences photosynthetic activity
- Equation to determine light intensity at a specific depth or other measures relating to light in the ocean
Nutrients
- What causes nutrient variations in depth
- Various nutrients limiting primary production.
- Methods to measure nutrients present.
Nutrients: C:N:P
- C:N:P ratios in phytoplankton
- Redfield ratio and its significance to primary production
- Examples of nutrient concentration profiles
- Nutrient cycle
Phosphate
- Phosphate variations in depth
Phosphorus Cycle
- How phosphorus moves through ecosystems
Nutrients: Si
- Silicate impact on diatom blooms
- Few clearly documented cases
Nutrients Fe
- Role of iron in photosynthesis
- High concentrations in coastal areas and low concentrations in oceanic areas
- Link to offshore upwelling with no land run-off
What Controls Primary Production
- Top-down and bottom-up control concepts
- Relationship to grazing
Grazing
- Indications of inverse horizontal spatial distributions (relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton)
Seasonal Patterns
- Variations in phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass throughout the year, differentiated by region (Tropical, Arctic, North Atlantic)
Epipelagic Foodwebs
- Diagrams showcasing interactions between different trophic levels in epipelagic environments (e.g., producers, consumers, and other ecosystems)
Plankton - New Understanding
- Deeper details on plankton classification (e.g., size categories, specific organisms)
Protozoans
- Overview of protozoan groups, noting their small size for consumption of pico- and nanoplankton
Microbial Loop
- Nanoflagellates and top-down control by ciliates, emphasizing the microbial loop concept in marine food webs
- Different trophic levels of organisms and their consumption processes
Nekton: Fish
- Overview of teleostean fishes (fish species)
Nekton: Birds and Mammals
- Key ecological features of seabirds and marine mammals along with examples of hunting studies
The Deep Sea
- Discussion point for sonar and acoustic methods
Sonar
- Explanation of how sonar is used to measure water depth
False Seafloor
- Recognition and implication of false indications on the sea floor through sonar measurements
Scattering Layers
- Interpretation of scattering layers using sonar measurements
Diel Vertical Migration
- Explanation of vertical migration patterns of organisms
Biological Carbon Pump
- Illustration of the ocean's ability to transfer and remilitarize carbon throughout its layers
Mesopelagic Fish
- Overview of mesopelagic fish species focusing on their abundance, habitat, and often unique features
Gonostomatidae
- Summary characterising the diverse species of fish associated with this taxonomy
Carbon Pump
- Illustrates carbon transfer throughout various parts of an ecosystem (e.g, respiration, photosynthesis, and decomposition)
Food Chains and Foodwebs
- Explanation of trophic levels and relationships in marine ecosystems
- Various examples are presented
Practical: Online Resources for Marine Biodiversity Data
- Practical guidelines on how to use resources available online to obtain data on specific marine organisms
Martins Law
- Describes sinking rates of particles based on their depth and density through the various layers of the ocean
Nutrients C:N:P
- Clarified understanding of how carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus relates in the process of primary production.
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Description
Prepare for your marine biology exam with this comprehensive quiz on oral presentation requirements, article selection, and discussion protocols. Understand the evaluation criteria and timing strategies to maximize your performance. Get ready to tackle the challenges of the exam with confidence!
