Marine Productivity Notes

1. What is an ecosystem? Totality of the environment including all chemical, physical,

geological and biological parts.
Within the ecosystem models, what are the players (is, groups of organisms)?
2. What are trophic levels? How much energy is lost between each trophic level?
Trophic level is where the organism lies in relation to the other organisms in an
ecosystem. Ninety percent of energy is lost between each level

1st Level (Autotrophs)

What is primary productivity?
Rate at which energy is stored by organisms through the formation of organic matter
How much of the ocean relies on photosynthesis?
99%
What factors influence primary productivity?
nutrient runoff and availability of solar radiation.
List examples of marine photosynthetic organisms
Angiosperms, molasses, surf waves, mangroves, salt marsh grass
What is chemosynthesis? Name an example.
Archaebacteria that live around the deep-ocean vents. They convert inorganic
material in the world into food. They are also referred to as extremophiles because
they live in extreme conditions

2nd Level and up Feeding describe each type of feeding and provide examples
o Filter Feeders feed on suspended solids in water by passing the water over a
filtering mechanism
o Deposit Feeding o Carnivores -

Terminal Level (decomposers)

What are decomposres/what is their role? Is important because it completes the
materials cycle

3. What is the food web? Why is it a better representation than a food chain?
a food web is a way to illustrate different levels of consumers and energy
flow. In real life, organisms consume across levels, not just below. The food web better
represents the flow of energy through consumption in nature.

4. What are limiting factors on marine primary productivity?

Limiting factors are physiological or biological necessities that restrict survival. Too
much or too little of a limiting factor will reduce population. Limiting factors in the ocean
include:
Inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus compounds
Sunlight due to season, depth, or water clarity
5. Briefly describe the productivity of each of the following regions:
Tropical Waters
have low productivity

Arctic and Antarctic Waters

have little temperature difference allowing nutrients to cycle to shallower water

Temperate Waters, coastal areas, have more primary productivity due to more
nutrients from rain runoff. Shallow water keeps them from sinking too deep.

How can light be harmful if too much is available in marine environments?

6. Globally, where is primary productivity the greatest? Primary productivity is highest in
estuaries, due to nutrient influx from the land, and lowest in the open ocean. Continental
shelves are also high for the same reasons as estuaries.

7. How can humans influence productivity?