Article Summary & Discussion Preparation Log Part I: Individual Assignment Name: Joanna Asuelo Article Title: Life

in the Ocean Author/Source: James W. Nybakken and Steven K. Webster/Scientific American Due Date: 10-26-13

A: List the major ideas, concepts or key points- point by point: 71% of Earth is covered by ocean Researchers have studied less than 10% of ocean Only 1% of deep ocean floor is studied Life evolved in the sea and few life-forms adapted without water Seawater is 800 times as desnse as air Marine organisms can float endlessly through water, while none can be in air Water absorbs light in shorter wavelengths Mid-water and deep-sea communities depend on the sinking photosynthesizers and decaying particles Phytoplankton are seasonal. Larger species are in coastal, while smaller species found in tropical and mid-ocean. Bottom-dwelling large algae are stuck to shallow zone around continents and islands Ocean does not contain a lot of plant life due to nutrients are lower than on land 1/10000 of phosphorus and nitrogen in fertile soil. Deep, chilly water has more nutrients

No light, no photosynthesis. Surface water has little nutrients due to photosynthesizers Oxygen is rarely depleted in the deep because of life being slow down there. Oxygen is mostly depleted at intermediate depths. In an oxygen minimum zone(500 to 1000 meters), few organisms live in oxygen poor environment

Food for organisms arrives in marine snow, or large carcass, a clump of kelp, or waterlogged tree settles on seafloor.

As marine snow sinks to bottom, microbes, invertebrates, and fishes feed; leaving less and less to sink. Means fewer consumers at greater depth

Pressure can cause deep-sea animals and invertebrates with shells to be gelatinous, lightweight skeletons, small, glow in the dark, and be sluggish

Ocean communities and creatures near shore are the most studied Since well-lit and near landmasses, shallow waters have lots of productivity and nutrients Kelp beds and coral reefs are the rainforests of the ocean. They house lots of species of marine life

Kelp-beds need colder water while coral reefs need warmer water Kelp forests and coral reefs soften waves and provide food and shelter Most coral reefs need clear water and a depth of less than 30 meters

B: Summarize the AUTHORs main point or idea- at LEAST 1-2 paragraphs: The oceans are a vast region, filled with the unknown. There is a lot learned about the near shore, well lit parts of the ocean. That level is filled with photosynthesizers that create oxygen in the water. There are also kelp beds and coral reefs. Both provide shelter and food for the many species living within them. As we go down into the oceans, our information is

limited. We know that the pressure from the depths affect the creatures living there, altering how they look and movement. We know that there is much more nutrients in the deep, due to the lack of sunlight. However, we do not know a lot about the 71% of Earth. The authors provided us with insight on how some parts of the oceans work. With more information given, we are able to understand and help the oceans and their life. C: Write a reaction paragraph to the article stating your own thoughts on the topic, using specific citations from the article to support your views: From reading this article, I know more about the organisms in the ocean. I learned that the pressure at different depths affect the organisms and their ability to live in that depth. I also learned that life evolved from the sea, making me more connected with it. I understand that there is limited information about them, but even with a few facts helps me become educated on the topic. The Earths oceans are a mystery to the human society. However, by educating myself and others, the oceans will be able to be protected and understood. So What? This article shows a basic understanding of the ocean to the reader. What if? What if the percentage of the deep sea floor being explored jumped from 1% to 10%? I predict that would answer some of our questions now, but also create more questions as well. Says Who? The authors, James W. Nybakken and Steven K. Webster, and their sources. What does this remind me of? This reminds me of the ocean acidification lab, where I knew not much about the carbonic acid.