Download Chap01 Science of Marine Bio

The Science of Marine Biology
History of Marine Science
Marine Biology- Defined
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The study of plants, animals, and other
organisms in the ocean.
 To understand Marine Biology, you need to
understand some marine chemistry, geology,
social sciences, technology, seamanship,
physics, and others
Why study Marine Biology?
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Vast source of human wealth
Food
Medicine
Raw materials
Recreation
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Can be problematic also
Invasive species destroy native species
Diseases
Erode piers, walls
Foul ships, clog pipes
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Produce much of the oxygen we breathe
 Estimated that the ocean’s living systems are
worth more than $20 trillion per year.
 World wide weather is a result of actions in and
around the oceans.
– El Nino
– Hurricanes
– Ever wonder why its cooler at the beach in the summer
and doesn’t snow as much at the shore?
History of Marine Biology
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People probably started learning about
marine life the first time they saw the ocean
 Full of good things to eat
Clam bakes as far back as the stone age
Harpoons and fishhooks of bone
and shell have been found
Coastal people of every culture developed a
practical knowledge of marine life
Aristotle
Aristotle (4th Century BC) is considered by
many to be the first marine biologist
Described many marine organisms
Recognized that gills were the breathing
apparatus of fish
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Vikings explored northern Atlantic – Leif
Eriksson discovered North America
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Arab traders learned about wind and current
patterns
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Pacific Islanders were consummate
navigators
James Cook
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James Cook – an English sea captain
One of the first to make scientific observations
Included a full-time naturalist in his crew
3 voyages that explored all the oceans
First to make use of the chronometer
Allowed him to determine his position
Allowed him to make accurate charts
Brought back specimens of plants and animals
By 19th Century it was common to take a naturalist
on board ships
Charles Darwin
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Charles Darwin was such a naturalist
 Sailed on HMS Beagle – 5yrs
 Evolution through natural selection
 Proposed an explanation for formation of
atolls
 Collected plankton and other specimens
 Middle 19th Century voyages specifically to
study the oceans were made
Edward Forbes
Edward Forbes – 1840’s and 1850’s
 Studied the sea floor creatures
 Discovered that life at different depths is
different
 Discovered previously unknown organisms
 Inspired interest in life on the sea floor
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Charles Thompson
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Charles Wyville Thompson – lead the HMS
Challenger expedition
1872
was a light warship
refitted to perform scientific observations on the
sea floor
Labs, quarters for scientific crew
Fitted for dredging and water samples in deep
water
3 ½ year voyage
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So much information was gathered, that after
HMS Challenger returned, it took 19 years to
publish the results – filled 50 volumes
 Measurements were made systematically, and
meticulous records were kept
 Laid the foundation for modern marine science
 Many Marine biologists at this time did not get the
chance to study living creatures. They got
preserved specimens.
Henri Edwards & Victor
Andouin
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Henri Milne Edwards and Victor
Andouin
 First to make regular visits to the shore to
study life
Soon labs were established that allowed
marine biologists to keep organisms alive
and work over longer periods
Marine Biology Labs
First was Stazione Zoologica – Naples Italy
(1872)
 First American Marine Laboratory was
Marine Bilogical Laboratory at Woods
Hole, Massachusetts
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After these, others included
o Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove,
CA
oScripps Institution of Oceanography in La
Jolla, CA
o Friday Harbor Marine Laboratory in Friday
Harbor, Washington
World War II
Sonar – sound navigation was developed
 Response to submarine warfare
 Ocean was found to be full of sound
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After WWII – Refinement of SCUBA
 Developed by Emile Gagnan and Jacques
Cousteau
 Allowed marine biologists the opportunity
to observe marine organisms in their natural
habitat
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MARINE BIOLOGY TODAY
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Ships and shore based labs still very
important
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Many universities operate their own
research vessels (UCONN – RV UCONN)
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Project Oceanology – ENVIROLAB I, II,
and III
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High tech submarines
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ROV’s - Remotely Operated Vehicles
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All 21 coastal states have marine labs
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Many Universities provide students the
opportunity to study at graduate levels marine
biology
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Computers can allow modern marine biologists to
rapidly analyze lots of data
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Satellites – can capture pictures of broad views of
the oceans
Currents
Phytoplankton
Temperature
Human impacts on the oceans
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