Marine Science 1a: Introduction

Have you ever heard of the chemical compound dihydrogen monoxide? Every so often, a news outlet or a prank group will post an article or a survey listing the hazards of this chemical, like its ability to corrode and damage metals and the fact that it’s a major component of acid rain. While this is all true, it’s kind of a manipulation of the truth. Dihydrogen monoxide is simply the chemical name for water! Humidity does corrode metals, and water is obviously a major component of any kind of rain. Luckily for you, you’re about to develop such a solid understanding of the science of water that you’ll never fall for any kind of dihydrogen monoxide prank!

What will you learn in this unit?

• Explain why the atomic structure of water gives it such unique properties
• Identify the processes that allow water to move through various states
• Define the principles of fluid dynamics, including hydrostatic pressure and buoyancy
• Describe how density is affected by salinity, temperature, and pressure
• Understand the basic functions of three biogeochemical cycles

Earth is ever changing and ever moving. Whether it be the consistent shifting of continents, the violent shaking caused by an earthquake, or the fluctuating shapes of erratic coastlines, Earth never seems to rest. Understanding the mechanisms behind each of these processes will leave you with a greater appreciation for the monumental force that is Mother Nature. Grasping these concepts requires that we learn about the scientists, oceans, and landmasses of the past so that we can anticipate how these geological processes may affect our future.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Describe how and why continents move over time
• Understand the causes of various geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges
• Recognize and classify the different zones of the ocean based on their various characteristics
• Illustrate how water in lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans shapes the topography of the land and the sea

From 1962 to 1963, the Galveston Laboratory of the US Bureau of Commercial Fisheries (now known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA) released close to 8,000 glass bottles into the Gulf of Mexico. More than 57 years later, a couple walking the beach of Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi, Texas, found one of those bottles. Inside the bottle, they discovered a postcard asking for the date and location the bottle was found. If the postcard was mailed back to NOAA, the couple would receive a $0.50 reward! This experiment was meant to study ocean currents. Luckily, we now have much more sophisticated techniques and tools that help us to understand how the ocean moves. While we may all be familiar with terms like “current,” “wave,” “tide,” and “hurricane,” do we truly understand how these concepts describe hydrological movements within aquatic ecosystems? Don’t worry—it won’t take 57 years to find out!

What will you learn in this unit?

• Identify and describe the measurable properties of a wave
• Understand the importance of currents and how they affect various global systems
• Describe how currents shape the biospheres around them
• Recognize how weather and seasons impact aquatic ecosystems

The Great Divide—otherwise known as the Continental Divide of the Americas—determines how water flows as it makes its way from the northern tip of Alaska down through Canada, the United States, and then Mexico. If water falls to the west of the divide, it flows to the Pacific Ocean. If water falls to the east of the divide, it eventually makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The ability of water to flow all around the world is what helps life flourish in even the most remote locations. Learning more about aquatic ecosystems and how all bodies of water are connected will help us to understand how vital it is that we advocate for adequate water quality around the globe.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Recognize why water is an optimal ecosystem environment for the majority of Earth’s organisms
• Define a watershed and how the disrupted homeostasis of one body of water impacts another
• Understand how to use various instruments and tools to measure water quality
• Analyze and draw conclusions from a water sample

Imagine you are a fish. What is the first thing you need for survival? Water! Okay, quick—find a body of water. Luckily for you, the vast majority of Earth’s surface is covered by water. You could choose to live in the ocean, but where in the ocean would you live? Surface waters? Deep water? Maybe fresh water would be better for you! Even though we aren’t fish and won’t have to make these choices, learning about the many aquatic ecosystems and the factors that impact whether an organism can live somewhere or not can give you insight into how human activity affects aquatic systems.

What will you learn in this unit?

• Explain the defining characteristics of various fresh water and brackish ecosystems
• Define the various biotic and abiotic factors of multiple marine ecosystems
• Describe the aquatic life zones that exist in different bodies of water
• Categorize aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates and depict the biotic and abiotic factors that influence where they can live and why
• Understand how human activity contributes to unbalanced ecosystems

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world. This sensational underwater environment is a large, sweeping ecosystem that is home to 3,000 coral reefs, each of which is considered its own unique ecosystem. Let’s zoom in on one of these smaller ecosystems: A large barracuda lingers overhead as hundreds of tiny damselfish actively feed on algae growing on the reef, a lone tiger shark swerves through the dynamic coral, and many smaller prey fish lunge inside their hiding spots along the living reef. How do all these organisms live harmoniously within the same area? In this unit, we will define all the interspecies relationships mentioned above—and more!

What will you learn in this unit?

• Understand how matter cycles within various aquatic systems
• Describe how energy flows through the different organisms within an ecosystem using food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids
• Recognize the different forms of relationships that exist between different individuals in an ecosystem
• Predict how a population will grow over time using mathematical formulas

We as humans tend to think of “life” in terms of terrestrial life-forms. However, much of life’s history has occurred under water. Approximately 2.3 billion years ago, a microbe known as cyanobacterium was the first known photosynthetic organism to produce gaseous oxygen—a game changer for life on Earth. However, it wasn’t until about 252 million years ago that shark and fish ancestors started to populate ocean environments. So, how do we go from cyanobacterium to the intense diversity we see today among plants and animals? The answer is simple: evolution. But just what exactly is this complex process? Let’s learn all about it!

What will you learn in this unit?

• Define natural selection, and describe the conditions required for its success
• Identify, compare, and classify aquatic organisms using a dichotomous key
• Recognize and describe inherited adaptations in marine and fresh-water organisms
• Explain how scientists have studied inherited adaptations throughout history

Physical

• Art supplies
• Clear container (that can hold four cups of water)
• Egg
• Empty water bottles with lids (4)
• Marker
• Small measuring device (teaspoon, tablespoon or food scale)
• Tape
• Thermometer
• Lukewarm water (three cups)
• Table salt (three cups)
• Video recording device

Software

• Google Scholar
• Word processing software

Other

• Helper

Optional

• Audio recording device
• Digital camera
• Graphic design software
• pH papers
• Presentation software
• Spreadsheet software