GEOS 305 Oceanography

Web Exercise 4

 

Examine the diagram - Primary Productivity

1. Peaks in biomass, which represent major phytoplankton blooms, are much more pronounced at mid- and high latitudes than at the tropics. Even though light is the principle control on primary productivity, why do we see this pattern?

 

 

 

Examine the diagram - trophic pyramid

2. What is the percentage of biomass that is tranfered upwards in each level of the trophic pyramid?

 

 

 

3. List a few of the organisms that are primary producers, primary consumers, consumers, and top consumers.

 

 

 

4. What is a food web?

 

 

 

Examine the diagram Fish Tank Model

5. The diagram is a model of a fish tank that is divided into two parts; a semipermeable membrane separates the two halves. The left side contains fresh water and the right side contains salt water. An osmotic gradient exists between the two sides.

 

a) Label the direction that water molecules will move across the membrane.

 

 

b) Fish body fluids have salinities between 8 and 15 parts per thousand. using the diagram as a guide, explain how fish that live in fresh water and fish that live in the ocean maintain their water balance?

 

 

c) What would happen to the cells of your stomach in you drank seawater?