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What is Marine Biology?
Marine biology - the study of organisms that live in the sea (this includes all water that has some
degree of salinity).
Marine biology is not a separate science. It is an applied field of biology and incorporates many
other sciences as well such as:
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A Marine Biologist is not the same as an Oceanographer
Marine Biologists study the ________________________ that inhabit the sea. (living things)
Oceanographers study the _________________________________ of the ocean including tides,
currents, waves and the chemical make-up of seawater. (non-living environment)
Why Study Marine Biology?
1. Since life is believed to have arisen in the sea, studying marine life forms can provide clue about early
life on earth.
2. Many products come from the sea including medicines derived from marine species, food resources
and other items used for human use (examples: the agar used to culture bacterial samples and
carrageanan used thicken dairy products are both derivatives of marine algae).
3. The marine environment and its habitats support recreation and tourism worldwide.
4. Marine organisms produce oxygen used by aerobic organisms, including humans.
5. Oceans help to regulate climate.
The ocean is slow to change in temperature because of water. This keeps coastal land masses more
stable year-round
6. Marine organisms can impact human life and their property.
Power plant facilities use seawater as coolant. The intake pipes get clogged by marine
organisms and the plant must be periodically closed to clear these organisms.
Microorganisms can directly affect human health or other organisms – Pfiesteria
History of Marine Biology
You will work with a partner and choose a person and Institution or technology to research and
discuss how they or it contributed to the science of oceanography.
Rubric and details to follow
People
Phonenicians
Ancient Greeks
Aristotle
Vikings
Leif Eriksson
Colombus
Magellan
James Cook
Charles Darwin
Edward Forbes
Charles Wyville Thompson
Institution
Woods Hole Marine Biological Lab, MA
Scripps Institute - La Jolla, CA
Friday Harbor Labs, WA
Technology
Remote sensing
Sonar
Scuba
Remotely operated vehicles (ROV’s)
Research vessels
Underwater Research Station - Aquarius