1. Intro to Oceanography

2. What is Oceanography?
The scientific study of the ocean and its inhabitants

3. Marine Biology – biological discipline; focused on the biology and physiology of marine organisms

4. Shouldn’t our planet be called “Water” rather than “Earth”?

5. Maximum depth: ca. 11,022 m (Trieste) (Land: Mt Everest 8,848 m)
~71% of the earth’s surface are oceans
Maximum depth: ca. 11,022 m (Trieste) (Land: Mt Everest 8,848 m)
Average depth: ca m
Total volume: 1370 x 106 km3
Presents 300 times space for life than land and freshwater combined. 

6. Only 2% of human food originates from the oceans but present 20% of high quality protein nutrition
Still recent NASA scientist said: “We now know more about the backside of the moon than about the depths of our oceans.”

7. Marine vs. Terrestrial Life
Organisms – similar density as environment (salt water) less energy to float/swim… small effect of gravity
Organisms – much higher density than air. High gravity impact (fall down)

8. Need strong skeletal material (animals: bones;
trees: trunks)
May become water limited
Temperature varies strongly
Water supports bodies, no need to put energy in skeletons
Plenty of water for life 
Temperature variation low

9. High nutrient concentrations in natural soils
Light limited: reflection of light at sea surface and rapid light absorption with water depth
Nutrient limited: nitrate, phosphate, silicate, iron
Light energy substantially higher than in aquatic systems, low absorption by air
High nutrient concentrations in natural soils

10. Nutrient cycling in soil close to plant uptake
Physically stable environment
Major part of nutrient cycling in the dark deep-sea
Physically unstable habitats