Module 8: Biological Oceanography

coral reefThe 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

Getting Started IconLife in the OceansHow 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