Chapter 1 The Science of Marine Biology

Chapter 1

• The Science of Marine Biology

Marine Biology

• The scientific study of the organisms that live in the sea

Practical Reasons to study marine biology

• Vast source of human wealth

• food, medicines and raw materials

• Recreation to millions

• Supports tourism

• Some marine organisms

• cause problems by causing

• disease or attacking people

• Harm us indirectly by injuring or killing other marine organisms that we value for food or other purposes

• Erode piers, walls and other structures, foul ship bottoms and clog pipes

Fundamental Reasons to study Marine Biology

• Marine life determines the very nature of our planet

• Produce much of the oxygen they breathe

• Regulate earth’s climate

• Shorelines are protected and shaped by marine life

• Some marine organisms create new land

• Ocean’s living systems are worth more than $20 trillion a year

We must learn all we can about marine life

• To make both full and wise use of the sea’s living resources

• To solve the problems marine organisms create

• Predict the effects of human activities on the life of the sea

• Marine organisms provide clues to earth’s past and the history of life and our own bodies

The Science of Marine Biology

• Science of biology applied to the sea

• Includes basic chemistry

• The study of whole organisms, the way they behave or where they live and why

• Global perspective

• Marine biology is closely related to oceanography (the scientific study of the oceans)

• Geological oceanographers – study the sea floor

• Chemical oceanographers – study ocean chemistry

• Physical oceanographers – study waves, tides, currents, and other physical aspects of the sea

• Biological oceanography – closely related to marine biology – can be considered the same thing

The History of Marine Biology

• People started learning about marine life forms as soon as they saw the ocean

• Coastal people in virtually ever culture developed a store of practical knowledge about marine life and the oceans

• Knowledge of the ocean and its organisms developed as people gained skills in seamanship and navigation

• Greek philosopher Aristotle (4th century BC) is considered by many to the first marine biologist

• He described many forms of marine life and many of his descriptions are still valid

Dark Ages

• Little learning and discovery occurred

• 995 AD Leif Eriksson discovered Vinland (N. Am.)

• Arab traders were active on the ocean at this time – learned about wind and current patterns and monsoons

Renaissance

• Europeans began to investigate the world around them

• 1492 – Columbus – discovers “New World”

• 1519 – Magellan – sailed around the globe

• Fairly accurate maps were created during this time

• Captain James Cook – English sea captain

• Was one of the first to make scientific observations along the way and to include a full-time naturalist among his crew

• First to use a chronometer – accurate time piece

• Brought back specimens of plants and animals

19th Century

• Common for vessels to take a naturalist along to collect and study the life forms that were encountered

• 1831- HMS Beagle – Charles Darwin goes on a 5 year voyage – develops the theory of evolution by natural selection

• Darwin explain how atolls form and used nets to collect plankton and studied barnacles in detail

The Challenger Expedition

• Middle of the 19th century – voyages are taken just to study the oceans

Edward Forbes

• 1840-50’s – carried extensive dredging of the sea floor – most influential marine biologist of his day

• Discovered many previously unknown organisms

• Recognized that sea life is different at different depths

• Inspired new interest in the life of the sea floor

Charles Wyville Thompson

• Lead the first major oceanographic expedition

• HMS Challenger

• British navy supplied the ship

• The ship was outfitted for the expedition with the best scientific equipment of the day

• December 1872 the Challenger set off on its 3 ½ year voyage

• The crew sailed around the world and gathered information and collected samples

• Volume of data collected was enormous

• It took 19 years to publish all the data collected

• The data filled up 50 thick volumes

• The challenger brought back more information about the ocean than had ever been recorded in all previous human history

• The expedition set new standards for studying the ocean

• Measurements were made systematically and carefully and meticulous records were kept

• Laid the foundations of modern marine science

Growth of Marine Labs

• Biologists began to work at the seashore

• Allowed for long term observations and experiments that were not possible on the ship

• Henri Milne Edwards and Victor Andouin – 1826 – French – began to make visits to the shore and study the life there

• Permanent laboratories dedicated to the study of marine life were established

• First lab – Stazione Zoologica – 1872 – Naples, Italy

• Marine Biological Society of the United Kingdom – 1879 – Plymouth, England

• First major American Lab – Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Mass

World War II

• Had a major effect on the development of marine biology

• Sonar (sound navigation radar) – developed in response to the growing importance of submarine warfare

• Sonar – based on the detection of underwater echoes

• Understanding the sounds produced by marine mammals now became a matter of national security

Years after World War II

• Refinement of SCUBA (self contained underwater breathing apparatus)

• Basic technology used in SCUBA was developed by French engineer Emile Gagnan

• Jacques Cousteau modified the apparatus, using it to breathe compressed air under water

• Cousteau devoted his life to scuba diving and the oceans

• Films, books and television programs inspired a fascination with the ocean

• Also alerted people to the threats to the health of the marine environment

Marine Biology Today

• High tech subs can descend to the deepest parts of the ocean

• Variety of odd looking vessels provide specialized facilities for marine scientists

• Underwater robots take photos, make measurements and collect samples in the ocean depths

• ROV’s (remotely operated vehicles) are controlled from the surface

• AUV’s (autonomous underwater vehicles) are preprogrammed to do their jobs independently of direct human control

• Computers allow scientists to rapidly analyze huge amounts of information

• Satellites orbit the earth peering down into the ocean – can capture the big picture

Satellites can measure:

• temperature of the sea surface

• track ocean currents

• determine the abundance and kinds of organisms present

• monitor human impacts of the ocean

Remote Sensing Technology

• Used to study the earth and its oceans from afar

• Track the migrations of whales

• Electronic buoys travel in oil spills to monitor the path the oil takes