22 Questions
What type of tide occurs during the 1st & 3rd quarter moon?
Neap tide
In which zone do extremophilic organisms reside when both high and low tides are at their extremes?
Intertidal zone
What influences the Tidal Prism in an estuary?
Estuarine circulation
What term describes the movement of denser saltwater into an estuary?
Saltwater intrusion
Which circulation pattern involves intrusion of saltwater at the estuary bottom and outflow of freshwater at the surface?
Salt wedge circulation
What feature influences the nutrient exchange and oxygenation of bottom waters in estuaries?
Turbulence and shear mixing
What is the difference in water level between high and low tides known as?
Tidal range
Which type of tide occurs during the full moon and new moon?
Spring tide
In which type of estuary does strong freshwater outflow block denser ocean water at the surface?
Salt wedge estuary
What feature characterizes slightly mixed estuaries?
Salinity increases from head to mouth
Which type of estuary exhibits limited exchange with the open ocean due to steep cliffs and strong vertical stratification?
Fjord estuary
What is the area between high and low tide marks called?
Intertidal zone
What is the primary factor responsible for the occurrence of Spring Tides?
Alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth
During Neap Tides, which of the following occurs?
Minimal difference between high and low tide
In the context of tidal cycles, what is the Intertidal Zone?
Shallow area along the shoreline affected by tides
Saltwater intrusion primarily affects which ecosystem characteristic?
Water conservation strategies in plants
What is the main reason behind the varying water density due to salinity shifts?
Osmoregulation processes in marine animals
Which region is characterized by vast open water with decreasing light and temperature?
Oceanic Zone
What adaptation in plants helps them survive in waterlogged soils?
Aerial roots for oxygen absorption
What is the main function of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems?
Production of organic compounds
What is the key role of macroinvertebrates in estuarine ecosystems?
Indication of ecosystem health
How do fish adapt to low oxygen environments?
Respiration adaptation via enhanced gill structures
Study Notes
Tidal Dynamics
- Neap tide occurs during 1st and 3rd quarter moon, characterized by high and low tides
- Supratidal zone is exposed at high high tide, Subtidal zone at low low tide, and Intertidal zone at low high tide and high low tide, where extremophilic organisms reside
- Tidal Prism refers to the volume of water exchanged during a tidal cycle, influenced by estuary geometry and tidal range
Salinity Gradients
- Oligohaline: low salinity (0.5-5 ppt)
- Euhaline: high and stable salinity (>30 ppt)
- Polyhaline: high salinity (18-30 ppt)
- Mesohaline: moderate salinity (5-18 ppt)
Water Quality
- Physical parameters: temperature, odor, turbidity, taste, and color
- Chemical parameters: pH, metals, DO, organic compounds, and nutrients
- Biological parameters: microorganisms, algae, and macroinvertebrates
Biodiversity in Estuary
- Flora: salt marsh plants, seagrass, and phytoplankton
- Fauna: fish, shellfish, bivalves, crustaceans, birds, and mammals
Biological Adaptations
Plant Adaptations
- Salt tolerance: specialized salt glands and tissue salt accumulation
- Aerial roots: absorb oxygen from air to survive in waterlogged soils
- Water conservation: thick cuticles, reduced leaf area, and succulent tissues
- Reproductive strategies: spread through buoyant seeds or fruits, ensuring colonization of new areas
- Tolerance to sediment dynamics: flexible stems/dense stands to dissipate wave energy
- Ecological interactions: engage in mutualistic relationships with other organisms
Animal Adaptations
- Salt regulation: use specialized structures to manage salt balance
- Osmoregulation: critical for survival in changing salinity
- Buoyancy control: stay positioned despite varying water density from salinity shifts
- Respiration: adapt to low oxygen through enhanced gill or direct breathing
- Temperature adaptation: manage temperature fluctuations with behavioral and metabolic adjustments
- Feeding strategies: migration to deeper water during low tide, foraging in intertidal zone during high tide
- Reproduction: ensure breeding success and offspring dispersal to suitable habitats
- Defense mechanisms: avoid predation and competition in dynamic environments
- Symbiotic relationships: mutualistic partnership with bacteria for digestion or stress management
Field Sampling Techniques
- Water Quality Sampling: measure water parameters using handheld meters and depth profiles with CTD profilers
- Plankton Sampling: use plankton nets of various sizes to collect plankton from different depths
- Benthic Sampling: use benthic grabs, corers, and dredges to collect sediment samples
- Fish Sampling: use various fishing gears like seine, gill, and fyke nets, electrofishing, and light traps
- Macrophyte Sampling: use transects or quadrats to collect macrophyte samples
- Bird and Mammal Survey: conduct visual observations
- Remote Sensing and GIS: use satellite imagery, aerial photography, and geographic information systems to analyze data, aid habitat management, and conservation planning
Open Sea Ecosystem
- Physical characteristics: vastness and extent of open sea ecosystem
- Littoral zone: shallow area along shoreline, from land's high-water mark to 200m deep, intertidal and shallow subtidal zones
- Pelagic zone: open water column away from shore and bottom, with depth and absence of seafloor contact
- Neritic zone: shallow region above continental shelf extending to 200m deep, intertidal and shallow subtidal zones
- Oceanic zone: open ocean beyond continental shelf, starts at depths over 200m
Continental Features
- Continental Shelves: shallow flat region extending from the coastline to continental slope
- Continental Slope: transitional zone between shelves and deeper ocean basins
- Abyssal Plains: vast, flat ocean floor areas between continental slopes and ridges
- Oceanic Ridges and Trenches: underwater mountain ranges and deep depressions
Test your knowledge on tides, different zones like intertidal and supratidal, salinity levels such as oligohaline and euhaline, and concepts like tidal prism and saltwater intrusion.
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