BIOL 331
Lecture 15
Marine Ecology
The Study of Marine Ecology
- Ecology = Study of ecosystems
- Ecosystems composed of communities
- Ecosystems defined by biotic and abiotic factors
- Communities composed of populations
Population Dynamics
- Growth and reduction factors
- Limiting factors
- Density dependent and independent factors
Species Interactions
Competition
- Competitive exclusion Principle
- Resource partitioning
- Habitat & niche
Predator-prey Interactions
- Carnivores & herbivores
- Predators limited by prey population
- Specialists vs. generalists
- Coevolution
Other interactions
- Symbiosis (mutualism)
- Commensalism
- Parasitism
Dynamics of Biomass & Energy
Trophic Structure
- Autotrophs = primary producers
- Heterotrophs = consumers
- Food chains vs. food webs
- Trophic levels: Primary producers ¾ ®
top consumers
- Detrital food web
- Trophic pyramids: Energy, numbers, biomass
- 10% rule for pyramids
Measuring primary productivity
- Gross vs. net productivity
- Factors affecting productivity
- Primary productivity can be estimated by measuring phytoplankton numbers
- Chlorophyll quantity used to estimate phytoplankton numbers
- Chlorophyll either measured chemically or by satellite
Nutrient Cycling
- Carbon cycle
- Nitrogen cycle
- Phosphorus cycle
Zonation of the Marine Ecosystem
Simplest System
- Benthos: Sessile and mobile organisms confined to the bottom
- Pelagic: Organisms of the water column
- Phytoplankton
- Zooplankton
- Nekton
More detailed zonation: See Fig. 9.20
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