Marine Biology as a Science

1
Marine Biology as a Science
MARE 171 Ms. Jen Turner
2
Key Concepts
3
Key Concepts of the Day

• Introduction to Marine Biology
• History
• Advances
• Scientific Method
• Species of the Day

4
BiologyMarine Biology "I always wanted to
pretend to be a marine biologist" - George
Costanza
Marine Biology - is a subject combining aspects
of functional biology ecology as it pertains to
the marine environment Functional biology the
study of how an organism carries out basic
functions e.g. reproduction, locomotion,
feeding, etc. Ecology the study of the
interaction
of organisms with
their physical and biological

environments
5

• Writing Assignment 1
• Select one of these disciplines
• Search scientific database for a
  marine biologist in this field
• Write one paragraph that includes
• Name, title, place of employment
• Educational background
• Recent studies

• Paragraph format
• Topic sentence
• Supporting ideas
• Conclusion sentence

6
History of Marine Biology
Early biologists in the 18th Century Marine
Biology begins w/ simple observations of
the distribution variety of marine life e.g.
Linnaeus, Cuvier Biologists of the 19th Century
Marine Biology develops into a science,
involving ecology hypothesis testing e.g.
Forbes, Sars Charles Darwin voyage of H.M.S.
Beagle
7
Darwinism
Theory of Evolution by way of Natural Selection
I have called this principle, by which each
slight variation, if useful, is preserved, by the
term Natural Selection.  from "The Origin of
Species
Unifying Concept for Science
8
Darwinism
Theory of Evolution by way of Natural Selection
Natural Selection - a natural process that
results in the survival reproductive success of
individuals or groups best adjusted to their
environment ?leads to the perpetuation of
genetic qualities best suited to that particular
environment i.e. Survival of the Fittest
9
Advances in Marine Biology
Included development of Research Institutions,
Faster Ships, Navigation, Diving
Technology Sonar used to locate objects
underwater using echoes Scuba self contained
underwater breathing apparatus Remote Sensing
studying the oceans from afar using
satellites Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) or
Manned Submersiblesused for surveys, collect
samples in deep waters (e.g. Alvin)
10
Advances in Marine Biology
Loihi
11
Loihis Hydrothermal Vents
2000m-capable submersible Pisces V allows
scientists to conduct detailed sampling of
vent waters, microorganisms hydrothermal
mineral deposits of Loihi summit.
Eel-like fish found on summit rift zones of
Loihi. (scientific name Synaphobranchid)
160º C vents w/ jelly-like bacterial mat
12
Cutthroat Eels in Loihis Vents
13
Precious Corals using ROVs
14
Advances in Marine Biology
Pop-up Satellite Tagging Devices
Otolith Microchemistry
Carbon -14
Mass number 14 Atomic number 6
C
Stable Isotope Analysis
15
Pop-up Satellite Tagging Devices
16
Scientific Method
I would've called but - oh right, this, I'm in
the super science racket, these things happen -
Dr. Thadius S. Venture
Defined A systematic means of reasoning
observation Basically allows all scientists to
follow a similar outline
17
Observation, Experimentation, Hypothesis
Biological research requires extensive
observations correlations, but experimentation
is usually the most effective way to answer a
question Correlation an observed relationship
between one factor another one of the most
common types of observations e.g. as Ahi
increase in size, they increase in weight
18
Hypotheses
Experimentation is a much sharper more powerful
way of establishing cause To solve a scientific
problem? a hypothesis must 1st be stated A
hypothesis is a statement that can be
tested No hypothesis can be scientifically
proved to be true instead hypothesis are
accepted for as long as they are supported by the
available evidence
However...
19
Hypothesis Testing
Hypothesis testing is most powerful when specific
predictions for an experimental treatment can be
contrasted with difference from a
control Develop a null hypothesis a concise
statement about a population mean contrary to
hypothesis Develop an experiment with one or
several controls
20
Controls Dont leave home without em

• Experimental Subjects
• Control Subjects

• Ex New Aquaculture Fish Feed
• Question Does it make fish grow bigger (mass)?

21
Hypothesis Testing
Initial Observations
Car wont start!
Think of how a car works needs gas, battery,
spark plugs, etc
Explanatory Model
IF the car will not start THEN it is because the
battery is dead.
Hypothesis
The battery is NOT the cause of the cars failure.
Null Hypothesis, Formulated with Experimental
Test in Mind
Experiment or Field Sampling Test
Use jumper cables and see if car starts.
Car does not start!? Accept Null, Reject
Hypothesis Form NEW Hypothesis
DATA
Car starts!?Reject Null, Accept Hypothesis
22
Statistics
After evaluating millions of pieces of data in
the blink of an eye, the Gamble-Tron 2000 says
the winner is...Cincinnati by 200 points!? Why,
you worthless hunk of junk Professor John
Frink
Deals with the calculation of trends
differences from repeated collections of
information Test of Statistical Significance
Using the conventional definition with alpha
0.05, a result is said to be statistically
significant when the result would occur less than
5 of the time if the populations were really
identical. Replicate collections - to sample
enough individuals to correctly represent the
proportions of the subgroup present in the
population
23
Species of the Day
Common Name Picasso Triggerfish, Reef
Triggerfish Scientific Name Rhinecanthus
rectangulus Hawaiian Name Humuhumunukunukuäpu
aa (Humu Humu Nuku Nuku wah
poowah-ah)