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Introduction to Marine Biology& OceanographyBlue Planet: A Natural History of Oceans
Why Study Marine Biology?
● What is Oceanography?○ Study of the physical, chemical, and
biological properties of the ocean
● What is Marine Biology?○ Study of the marine organisms and their
behaviors/interactions with their environment
Why Study Marine Biology?
● Oceans make up ~71% of the Earth's surface and contain ~96.5% of all Earth’s water
● The ocean is “The Final Frontier”○ NOAA estimates that 95% of the ocean and 99% of the
ocean floor are unexplored
● Oceans impact our weather, food supply and terrestrial habitats - just to name a few!
Early Marine Science
Greek naturalist, Aristotle● 384 - 322 BCE● Considered to be the very first marine scientist● Key findings:
○ Recognized cetaceans as mammals○ Marine vertebrate are either oviparous or viviparous
Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder● 23-79 CE● Naturalis Historia
○ 37 Volumes
Early Marine Science
Lack of research during the Middle Ages● 800 - 1400 CE● Time of intellectual darkness● Became an illiterate society● Believed Earth was flat● Only voyaging Europeans were
Vikings
Early Marine Science
James Cook, English sea captain● Made scientific observations on his
travels● Began exploring oceans in 1768● First European to see Antarctica, and
land on Hawaii, New Zealand, and other Pacific Islands
Early Marine Science
Charles Darwin, English naturalist● HMS Beagle, 1831● Described atolls
○ Rings of coral reefs● Studied plankton and
barnacles
Modern Marine Science
Oceanography Explosion● Post industrial revolution● Steam engines and iron
ships● Development of diesel
engine, electric motor and lead-acid battery lead to submersibles
● Countries with increased wealth were able to fund more research
● Technology drives modern marine research○ Ie. computers,
internet, data repositories
Modern Marine Science
British Challenger Expedition● 1872-1876● First expedition entirely devoted to marine science● Sailed nearly 90,000 miles● Key discoveries:
○ Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Mariana Trench○ Organisms in deep ocean○ Sampled and illustrated plankton○ Cataloged and identified 715 new genera and 4717
new species
British Challenger Expedition
Modern Marine Science
American marine research centers● The Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods & Woods
Hole Oceanographic Inst., MA○ Founded in 1888
● Scripps Institution of Oceanography, CA○ Founded in 1903
● Friday Harbor Laboratories, WA○ Founded in 1904
Field Tools & Technology
Field Tools and Technology
Submersibles● Bathysphere
○ Steel ball with window and umbilical
○ Vertical movement only
○ 1932 Beebe and Barton reached 661 meters
Field Tools and Technology
Submersibles● Bathyscaphe
○ Attached to large float○ Limited horizontal
movement○ Deep depths
■ Trieste traveled to bottom of the Challenger Deep piloted by Piccard & Walsh
Field Tools and Technology
Submersibles● Deep-diving
○ 2-3 person vessel○ Moderate-Deep Depths○ Good horizontal movement○ No float tank○ Robotic arms○ Alvin - discovered the Titanic
Field Tools and Technology
Self-Contained Diving● Hard-hat (helmet)
○ 1840s○ Heavy○ Required support team/vessel○ Not practical for research
■ Good for underwater labor
Field Tools and Technology
Self-Contained Diving● First workable
scuba introduced in 1878 by Henry Fleuss
Field Tools and Technology
Field Tools and Technology
Self-Contained Diving● Modern SCUBA system
○ Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan developed in 1943
○ Compressed air provided when diver inhales
○ Easy to use, lightweight, simple
Field Tools and Technology
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs)● Small, unmanned submarine● Has propellers, video camera, and umbilical● Operator at surface● Can have arms, claws, and other tools
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUVs)● Untethered robotic device● Self-contained power system and computer● Maneuverable in 3 dimensions
Field Tools and Technology
Satellite Telemetry● Developed in the 1980s● Tracks movements
○ Especially helpful for tracking migratory patterns
Field Tools and Technology
Seine Nets● Fishing net● Hangs vertically in
the water with weighted bottom
Field Tools and Technology
Secchi Disc● 8” disk with alternating
black and white quadrants
● Lowered into water until no longer visible○ Secchi depth
● Measures transparency of water
Field Tools and Technology
CTD Rosette● Tool for collecting water samples at multiple
depths and locations
● Measures multiple variables at once: Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD)
○ Bering Sea Expedition○ Western Atlantic○ Denmark Strait, Near Greenland