The oceans are teeming with life! Now that you have learned about the geography, physics, and chemistry of the ocean, you will begin to examine the biology. In this module, you will learn how scientists categorize something as "life" using seven important characteristics. Also, you will explore the origin of life in the oceans starting with the first organisms. Exciting experiments led to the theories that we have today. Then, you will learn how marine organisms are classified so that scientists can organize and study them using a scientific naming system. Organisms are grouped or classified according to similarities among characteristics such as habitat and mobility. Finally, you will learn about the special adaptations that marine organisms have in order to live successfully in their oceanic environments.
Getting Started
How much do you already know about biological oceanography? In this non-graded interactivity, follow the instructions on each question slide. Click SUBMIT to check your responses. Click the player button to begin.
Key Vocabulary
To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.
adaptation | class | kingdom | prebiotic soup |
amino acid | classification | methane | prokaryotic |
ammonia | countershading | mobility | Protista |
ancestor | cyanobacteria | Monera | Protozoa |
Animalia | ectothermic | natural selection | species |
autotrophic | eukaryotic | nekton | Stanley Miller |
bacterioplankton | evolution | nucleus | streamline |
basins | family | offspring | swim bladder |
benthos | Fungi | order | temperature gradient |
Big Bang Theory | genus | organelles | transparent |
blubber | gills | phylogenetic classification | UV light |
buoyancy | habitat | phylum | variability |
camouflage | heterotrophic | phytoplankton | vertebrates |
carbon dioxide | hydrogen | plankton | virioplankton |
chemosynthesis | hydrothermal vent | Plantae | zooplankton |