OCEAN ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY: Sverdrup et al., Chapter 10 Omit sections 10.2, 10.6, and 10.11

Students should be able to

1. identify the difference between the various pelagic zones
2. understand the difference between pelagic and benthic zones.
3. discuss the influence that photosynthesis, respiration and decay have on the chemistry of the open ocean (oxygen and nutrients in particular)
4. describe and explain reasons for differences in primary productivity in equatorial, temperate and polar zones of the ocean
5. discuss the importance of trophic levels in terms of efficiency of biological food chains and webs
6. discuss the significance of chemosynthesis in particular regions of the ocean

ENVIRONMENTAL ZONES: What are they and why are they separated?

· Pelagic zones (2% of marine species in these zones)

o Coastal zone: neritic

o Oceanic zones: epipelagic, mesopelagic, and bathypelagic;

o Photic zone vs. aphotic zones

· Benthic zones (98% of marine species in these zones)

PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY: supports life in the oceans

· Photosynthesis: know basic formula

· Definition of primary productivity

· Influence of nutrients and light variations with latitude on primary productivity

o Be able to draw graphs including nutrients, light, phytoplankton over year’s time

· Global primary productivity patterns

· Relationship of primary productivity, respiration and decay: use oxygen and dissolved nutrients with depth in ocean as an example

· Food chains, food webs, and trophic levels: consider efficiency of system

· Chemosynthesis