Marine Biology: Plankton Dynamics and Migration

<p>Phytoplankton bloom among diatoms. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nutrient-depleted surface waters have higher nutrients at depth. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Viscous forces dominate over inertial forces. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They must use constant but low-power movements for motion. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It leads to adaptations that minimize fluid resistance while feeding. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows for efficient movement but at slower speeds. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Increased light and phytoplankton growth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Copepodite (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Deep mixing and absence of stratification (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nutrient depletion limits phytoplankton productivity (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It stimulates zooplankton reproduction after a lag time (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Winter, due to low light and limited phytoplankton (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A bloom with reduced light and cooler temperatures (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Areas with the highest tidal currents do not experience a spring bloom (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It is a layer of elevated chlorophyll concentrated below the surface layer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Limited growth nearer to the surface (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Tides bring diatoms and nutrients together, supporting growth (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It brings nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, promoting diatom growth. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Small copepods that thrive in nutrient-rich environments. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They cause vertical oscillations of the thermocline, redistributing plankton. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It ensures year-round high productivity without seasonal peaks. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Larger copepods tend to thrive due to stable conditions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They create transitional zones that facilitate nutrient mixing. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They enhance the growth of phytoplankton by bringing them into the photic zone. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They promote nutrient upwelling, increasing primary productivity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By creating barriers that retain fresh larvae and nutrients. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They reach reefs to enhance productivity for a limited time. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A dimensionless number used to characterize the flow of a fluid around an object. It is calculated by dividing inertial forces by viscous forces.

Plankton experience a very low Reynolds number, meaning viscous forces dominate their movement. Imagine moving through honey; this is what it feels like for them!

In low Reynolds number environments, organisms must use constant but low-power movements, like beating cilia, to move

To feed, plankton often use parasitic feeding structures adapted for various environments. They have a constant struggle to find and capture food

The lifecycle of a marine copepod involves four stages: egg, nauplius, copepodite, and adult. Each stage has specific characteristics and adaptations for survival.

The unsegmented stage of a copepod during which the primary focus is on feeding and growth.

The stage where a copepod's body becomes segmented, and it starts developing reproductive structures.

The movement of water caused by forces like winds, tides, and currents. It plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by distributing nutrients and food.

The contact rate between zooplankton and their prey is higher during high turbulence. An example is herring spawning in areas with tidal mixing.

The relationship between foraging species and turbulence is dome-shaped, meaning there is an optimal level of turbulence for feeding.

The process by which phytoplankton use sunlight to convert inorganic carbon into organic matter, forming the base of the marine food web.

The growth of heterotrophic organisms, primarily zooplankton, fueled by the consumption of primary producers.

Low light availability and deep mixing limit phytoplankton growth, leading to minimal primary production.

Increasing sunlight and day length trigger a rapid increase in phytoplankton growth. Winter mixing has replenished nutrients, making them abundant in the sunlit zone.

Stratification separates nutrient-rich water from the surface, leading to nutrient depletion in the sunlit zone, causing primary production to decline.

The breakdown of layers in water due to changes in temperature or salinity. This process brings nutrients from deeper layers to the surface, fueling phytoplankton growth.

A smaller phytoplankton boom that occurs in the autumn due to reduced light and cooler temperatures compared to the spring boom.

The movement of ocean water caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. Tides create turbulence which mixes water and brings nutrients and phytoplankton together.

Areas with weak tides experience a spring bloom earlier, while areas with strong tides have a later bloom. Extremely strong tides can even prevent a spring bloom from happening.

A layer of high chlorophyll concentration found beneath the surface layer in stratified water. It's often located where light fades out (base of the euphotic zone).

A layer in a body of water where the temperature changes rapidly with depth, acting as a barrier to nutrient mixing.

The upward movement of nutrient-rich water from deeper layers to the sunlit surface.

The process by which sunlight drives the growth of phytoplankton in the upper layers of the ocean.

Tidal mixing brings nutrient-rich water to the photic zone, leading to increased phytoplankton growth.

Internal waves, generated by tidal flows, cause vertical movement of the thermocline, influencing plankton distribution.

Phytoplankton are tiny plants that live in the ocean and are a crucial part of the marine food web. Internal waves can bring these phytoplankton up to the surface where they can access sunlight and grow.

Zooplankton are tiny animals that live in the ocean and feed on phytoplankton. Convergence zones created by internal waves can concentrate zooplankton, forming areas of high density.

Tidal fronts are zones where water from different sources meet, creating a boundary that can trap larvae, nutrients, and prey. This concentrated abundance of resources attracts larger predators like seabirds, dolphins, and whales.

Nutrients are essential for the growth of marine life. Tidal mixing at fronts can bring nutrients from deeper water to the surface, fueling high productivity. This makes tidal fronts vibrant hotspots for life.

Chesapeake Bay is an estuary, a semi-enclosed body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean. The tidal cycle influences the movement of nutrients within the bay, playing a crucial role in the health of the ecosystem.