Key Marine Invertebrates, Plants, and Their Roles in Marine Biology
Marine Biology is the study of marine, also called otherwise as aquatic animals, about their life cycle, activities, different facts related to the marine aquatic ecosystem along with its habitats, and their interactions with the environment. It is said that in biology, many families, genera, phyla have a few species living in the sea, and others living on land and marine biology classifies species depending on the environment rather than based on taxonomy.
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Charles Darwin is suitably the best known for his evolution theory, and James Cook is best known as the father of marine biology or modern marine biology. He also performed several significant research to advance the study of marine biology during the 18th Century, which encouraged other scientists also in their inventions.
What is Marine Biology?
Marine biology is the marine ecosystem's scientific study, including various types of tidal zones, saltwater swamps, oceans, mangroves, rivers, streams, and so on along with their features, depth of the ocean beds, various types of marine life, which primarily involves a vast number of species, from the zooplankton and microscopic phytoplankton to massive organisms such as aquatic plants, various types of fish, sharks, and whales that survives, lives, and exists, under the surface of the ocean. Overall, in addition, Marine biology also includes the study of the inter-relationship between ecology, environment, and marine life.
The study of Marine biology explains a wide range of adaptations that involve the physiological, structural, life cycle, and behavioural adaptations of marine habitats. The taxonomy records say that marine habitats are older than terrestrial habitats, as life originated in the oceans was around 3.1 billion to 3.4 billion years ago.
Why is Marine Biology Important?
As the growing global population agitating our society's ability to produce food, water, shelter, and we will continue to look at the oceans to help sustain our basic needs.
Technology advances, added with demand, will improve our ability to derive food, energy sources, drinking water, transportation, and waste disposal from the ocean.
It will be up to the present and future generations to build upon our existing ocean knowledge and its potential to help meet the world's needs and its inhabitants.
Marine Biology vs. Biological Oceanography
The difference between these two terms, "marine biology" and "biological oceanography" is subtle, and are often used interchangeably. Marine biology is the marine species' study that lives in saltwater environments and in oceans. Biological oceanography also studies marine species, but only in the oceanography context. So a marine biologist might study the reproductive behavior of anchovies, where biological oceanographers might study the impact of cold upwellings on anchovy populations off the coast of South America.
Marine Life
Microscopic Life
Inhabitants, as the largest environment on Earth, marine microbial systems drive changes in every global system. Microbes are primarily responsible for all the photosynthesis that virtually occurs in the ocean, and the cycling of carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and many other nutrients and trace elements as well.
Incredibly the microscopic life undersea is diverse and still understood poorly. For suppose, the virus's role in the marine ecosystems is being explored barely even at the beginning of the 21st Century.
The phytoplankton role is understood better due to its critical position as the most numerous primary producers on Earth. Phytoplankton is divided into cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green bacteria/algae), different types of algae (red, brown, yellow-green, and green), diatoms, euglenoids, dinoflagellates, coccolithophorids, cryptomonads, chlorophytes, chrysophytes, silicoflagellates, and prasinophytes.
Plants and Algae
Microscopic algae and plants give important habitats for life and sometimes act as a hiding place for invertebrates for larval forms of larger fish and foraging places.
Algal life is very diverse and widespread under the ocean. Microscopic photosynthetic algae contribute a bigger proportion of the world's photosynthetic output compared to all the combined terrestrial forests. Actually, most of the niche occupied by sub plants on land is occupied by macroscopic algae in the ocean, like Sargassum and kelp, which are usually known as seaweeds, which create kelp forests.
Plants surviving in the sea are often found in shallow waters, like the seagrasses (examples of which are Zostera, eelgrass, and Thalassia, turtle grass). These plants have adapted to the high range of salinity of the environment of the ocean. Also, the intertidal zone is a good place to find plant life in the sea, where cordgrass or mangroves or beach grass might grow.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates make up a considerable portion of all life in the sea as on land. Invertebrate sea life involving Cnidaria like the sea anemones, jellyfishes; sea worms including Nemertea, Echiura, phyla Platyhelminthes, Sipuncula, Phoronida, and Chaetognatha; Mollusca including shellfish, squid; Ctenophora; Arthropoda including Crustacea and Chelicerata; Bryozoa; Porifera; Echinodermata including starfish; and Urochordata including tunicates or sea squirts. The invertebrates have no backbone, and there are over a million species count.
FAQs on Marine Biology: Dive Into Ocean Life and Ecosystems
1. What are the main types of marine habitats?
Marine habitats are broadly divided into two main types based on their location. The primary types are:
- Coastal Habitats: These are found from the shoreline to the edge of the continental shelf. This zone is rich in nutrients and sunlight, supporting the majority of marine life. Examples include coral reefs, mangroves, and estuaries.
- Open Ocean Habitats: This includes the vast, deep ocean areas beyond the continental shelf. Life here is adapted to different conditions like high pressure and low light, and it is further divided into pelagic (water column) and demersal (seafloor) zones.
2. What is the scope of marine biology as a career in India?
The scope for marine biology in India is growing steadily. Graduates can find opportunities in various sectors:
- Research: Working with government institutes like the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) or the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
- Conservation: Joining NGOs and government bodies to work on protecting marine ecosystems and endangered species.
- Aquaculture: Working in the farming of fish, shellfish, and other marine organisms.
- Education: Becoming teachers, professors, or science communicators.
There is an increasing demand for experts to study the impacts of climate change on our oceans.
3. How is marine biology different from marine science?
While the terms are often used together, they have a key difference. Marine Biology is a specific field that focuses on the study of living organisms in the ocean—their behaviours, physiology, and interactions. In contrast, Marine Science (or Oceanography) is a much broader, interdisciplinary field that includes marine biology, as well as marine chemistry, geology, and physical oceanography (currents, waves, and tides). Think of marine biology as one important specialisation within the vast field of marine science.
4. What subjects should I focus on in Class 11 and 12 to pursue a career in marine biology?
To build a strong foundation for a career in marine biology, you should primarily focus on the Science stream. The most crucial subject is Biology, as it covers the fundamentals of life. Additionally, a good understanding of Chemistry and Physics is essential, as these subjects explain the environmental and chemical processes in the ocean that affect marine life. Taking Mathematics can also be very helpful for data analysis and research.
5. What kind of work does a marine biologist typically do?
The work of a marine biologist is very diverse. It's not just about swimming with dolphins! Daily tasks can include:
- Fieldwork: Collecting data and samples from oceans, estuaries, or coastal areas.
- Laboratory Research: Analysing samples, studying organisms, and conducting experiments.
- Data Analysis: Using software to understand population dynamics, genetic information, or environmental impacts.
- Writing and Publishing: Documenting findings in scientific papers and reports.
They might study anything from tiny plankton to the largest whales, focusing on their role in the ecosystem.
6. Why is studying marine biology so important for understanding climate change?
Studying marine biology is crucial for understanding climate change because oceans play a massive role in regulating the Earth's climate. Marine organisms, especially microscopic phytoplankton, produce a significant portion of the world's oxygen and absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide. By studying how rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification affect these organisms, scientists can predict the long-term impacts of climate change and find potential solutions.
7. How do marine organisms adapt to extreme conditions like high pressure and low light in the deep sea?
Organisms in the deep sea have developed remarkable adaptations to survive. To cope with immense pressure, many have soft, boneless bodies or lack air-filled spaces like swim bladders. To navigate in complete darkness, many species have developed bioluminescence—the ability to produce their own light for hunting, defence, or finding mates. They often have slow metabolisms to conserve energy in an environment where food is very scarce.
