Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

  1. The Physical Marine Environment
    1. Properties of Seawater
      1. Chemical Composition of Seawater
        1. Major Dissolved Ions
          1. Minor and Trace Elements
            1. Dissolved Gases
              1. pH and Alkalinity
              2. Salinity and its Measurement
                1. Methods of Measuring Salinity
                  1. Conductivity Measurements
                    1. Refractometry
                      1. Chemical Titration
                      2. Global Patterns of Salinity
                        1. Surface Salinity Distribution
                          1. Vertical Salinity Profiles
                            1. Seasonal Variations
                            2. Factors Affecting Salinity
                              1. Evaporation and Precipitation
                                1. River Input and Ice Melting
                                  1. Ocean Circulation Effects
                                2. Temperature and Thermal Stratification
                                  1. Temperature Profiles
                                    1. Surface Mixed Layer
                                      1. Thermocline Structure
                                        1. Deep Water Temperatures
                                        2. Seasonal and Latitudinal Variations
                                          1. Tropical Temperature Patterns
                                            1. Temperate Zone Variations
                                              1. Polar Ocean Temperatures
                                              2. Thermocline Formation
                                                1. Permanent Thermoclines
                                                  1. Seasonal Thermoclines
                                                    1. Diurnal Temperature Changes
                                                  2. Density and Pycnoclines
                                                    1. Relationship Between Temperature, Salinity, and Density
                                                      1. Pycnocline Layer Characteristics
                                                        1. Density-Driven Circulation
                                                          1. Water Mass Formation
                                                          2. Pressure Gradients
                                                            1. Pressure Increase with Depth
                                                              1. Hydrostatic Pressure Effects
                                                                1. Effects of Pressure on Organisms
                                                                  1. Physiological Adaptations
                                                                    1. Barotrauma in Marine Life
                                                                  2. Light Penetration and the Photic Zone
                                                                    1. Attenuation of Light in Water
                                                                      1. Absorption and Scattering
                                                                        1. Wavelength-Dependent Penetration
                                                                        2. Depth Zones Based on Light Availability
                                                                          1. Euphotic Zone
                                                                            1. Dysphotic Zone
                                                                              1. Aphotic Zone
                                                                              2. Implications for Photosynthesis
                                                                                1. Light-Limited Primary Production
                                                                                  1. Photoadaptation Strategies
                                                                              3. Ocean Basins and Geomorphology
                                                                                1. Structure of the Ocean Floor
                                                                                  1. Bathymetric Features
                                                                                    1. Sediment Distribution
                                                                                      1. Geological Provinces
                                                                                      2. Continental Margins
                                                                                        1. Continental Shelf
                                                                                          1. Formation and Extent
                                                                                            1. Shelf Break Characteristics
                                                                                              1. Ecological Importance
                                                                                                1. High Productivity Areas
                                                                                                  1. Commercial Fishing Grounds
                                                                                                2. Continental Slope
                                                                                                  1. Slope Features
                                                                                                    1. Slope Gradient Variations
                                                                                                      1. Sediment Transport
                                                                                                      2. Submarine Canyons
                                                                                                        1. Canyon Formation Processes
                                                                                                          1. Turbidity Currents
                                                                                                            1. Canyon Ecosystems
                                                                                                          2. Continental Rise
                                                                                                            1. Sediment Accumulation
                                                                                                              1. Turbidite Deposits
                                                                                                                1. Deep-Sea Fans
                                                                                                              2. Deep-Ocean Basins
                                                                                                                1. Abyssal Plains
                                                                                                                  1. Sediment Composition
                                                                                                                    1. Pelagic Sediments
                                                                                                                      1. Terrigenous Sediments
                                                                                                                        1. Biogenic Sediments
                                                                                                                        2. Biological Communities
                                                                                                                          1. Benthic Fauna Adaptations
                                                                                                                            1. Food Web Dynamics
                                                                                                                          2. Seamounts and Guyots
                                                                                                                            1. Formation Processes
                                                                                                                              1. Volcanic Origins
                                                                                                                                1. Hotspot Tracks
                                                                                                                                2. Ecological Significance
                                                                                                                                  1. Endemic Species
                                                                                                                                    1. Upwelling Effects
                                                                                                                                      1. Deep-Sea Coral Communities
                                                                                                                                    2. Mid-Ocean Ridges
                                                                                                                                      1. Plate Tectonics and Spreading Centers
                                                                                                                                        1. Seafloor Spreading
                                                                                                                                          1. Ridge Morphology
                                                                                                                                          2. Hydrothermal Activity
                                                                                                                                            1. Vent Formation
                                                                                                                                              1. Mineral Precipitation
                                                                                                                                                1. Chemosynthetic Ecosystems
                                                                                                                                              2. Oceanic Trenches
                                                                                                                                                1. Subduction Zones
                                                                                                                                                  1. Trench Formation
                                                                                                                                                    1. Seismic Activity
                                                                                                                                                    2. Deepest Ocean Points
                                                                                                                                                      1. Challenger Deep
                                                                                                                                                        1. Hadal Zone Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                  2. Ocean Dynamics and Circulation
                                                                                                                                                    1. Forces Driving Ocean Circulation
                                                                                                                                                      1. Wind Stress
                                                                                                                                                        1. Density Differences
                                                                                                                                                          1. Coriolis Effect
                                                                                                                                                            1. Gravitational Forces
                                                                                                                                                            2. Tides and their Causes
                                                                                                                                                              1. Gravitational Effects of Moon and Sun
                                                                                                                                                                1. Tidal Forces
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Orbital Mechanics
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Spring and Neap Tides
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Tidal Amplitude Variations
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Lunar and Solar Cycles
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Tidal Currents
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Flood and Ebb Currents
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Tidal Mixing
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Amphidromic Points
                                                                                                                                                                          2. Waves and Surface Currents
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Wind-Generated Waves
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Wave Formation
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Wave Characteristics
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Wave Energy and Propagation
                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Wave Anatomy and Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Wave Height and Period
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Wavelength and Frequency
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Wave Refraction and Diffraction
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Major Surface Currents
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Subtropical Gyres
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Boundary Currents
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Equatorial Current Systems
                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Coriolis Effect
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Earth's Rotation Influence
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Geostrophic Balance
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Ekman Transport
                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Upwelling and Downwelling
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Coastal Upwelling Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Wind-Driven Upwelling
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Ekman Pumping
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Topographic Upwelling
                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Biological Implications
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Nutrient Enhancement
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Primary Productivity Increases
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Fisheries Productivity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Downwelling Zones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Convergence Areas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Nutrient Depletion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Oxygen Minimum Zones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Thermohaline Circulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Deep Water Formation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. North Atlantic Deep Water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Antarctic Bottom Water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Mediterranean Water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Global Patterns and Climate Influence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Meridional Overturning Circulation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Heat Transport
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Climate Regulation

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Introduction to Marine Science

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Coastal Ecosystems