ENVS 1000U Lecture 14: Lecture 14
3 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Oceans influence global climate, have great biodiversity, facilitate transportation/commerce, provide resources for us. Currents = ocean is composed of vast riverlike flows driven. By density differences, heating, cooling, gravity, and wind. Affect climate (e. g. el ni o and la ni a events) Microscopic phytoplankton constitute base of marine food chain in pelagic (open water) zone. Predators at higher trophic levels include larger fish, sea turtles, sharks, and fish-eating birds feed on plankton. Animals adapt to extreme water pressure and the absence of light. Hydrothermal vents support tubeworms, shrimp, and other chemosynthetic species. Transportation routes: move people and products over vast distances, has impact on environment, ballast water transplants organisms (invasive species e. g. zebra mussels) Energy resources: crude oil / natural gas issues of oil spills that damage fisheries, renewable energy sources (e. g. such as waves, tides, heat) Minerals (sand, gravel, sulfur, calcium carbonate, and silica) Rich deposits of copper, zinc, silver, and gold.
