Coastal and Marine Ecosystems

  1. Ecological Processes and Dynamics
    1. Primary Productivity
      1. Photosynthesis in the Ocean
        1. Light Requirements
          1. Photosynthetically Active Radiation
            1. Light Attenuation
            2. Nutrient Requirements
              1. Nitrogen Limitation
                1. Phosphorus Limitation
                  1. Silica Limitation
                    1. Iron Limitation
                    2. Major Photosynthetic Organisms
                      1. Phytoplankton Communities
                        1. Benthic Algae
                          1. Seagrass Productivity
                        2. Chemosynthesis
                          1. Chemical Energy Sources
                            1. Hydrogen Sulfide Oxidation
                              1. Methane Oxidation
                                1. Ammonia Oxidation
                                2. Hydrothermal Vent Communities
                                  1. Bacterial Primary Production
                                    1. Symbiotic Relationships
                                    2. Cold Seep Communities
                                      1. Methane-Based Ecosystems
                                        1. Sulfide-Based Systems
                                      2. Factors Limiting Productivity
                                        1. Light Availability
                                          1. Seasonal Variations
                                            1. Depth Limitations
                                              1. Turbidity Effects
                                              2. Nutrient Availability
                                                1. Macronutrient Cycling
                                                  1. Micronutrient Requirements
                                                    1. Upwelling Effects
                                                    2. Temperature Effects
                                                      1. Metabolic Rate Influences
                                                        1. Seasonal Temperature Cycles
                                                    3. Marine Food Webs
                                                      1. Trophic Levels
                                                        1. Primary Producers
                                                          1. Phytoplankton
                                                            1. Benthic Algae
                                                              1. Chemosynthetic Bacteria
                                                              2. Primary Consumers
                                                                1. Herbivorous Zooplankton
                                                                  1. Grazing Fish
                                                                    1. Filter Feeders
                                                                    2. Secondary Consumers
                                                                      1. Carnivorous Zooplankton
                                                                        1. Small Predatory Fish
                                                                          1. Invertebrate Predators
                                                                          2. Tertiary Consumers
                                                                            1. Large Predatory Fish
                                                                              1. Marine Mammals
                                                                                1. Seabirds
                                                                              2. Energy Transfer and Efficiency
                                                                                1. Ecological Pyramids
                                                                                  1. Pyramid of Numbers
                                                                                    1. Pyramid of Biomass
                                                                                      1. Pyramid of Energy
                                                                                      2. Trophic Efficiency
                                                                                        1. Energy Transfer Rates
                                                                                          1. Production Efficiency
                                                                                            1. Assimilation Efficiency
                                                                                          2. The Microbial Loop
                                                                                            1. Role of Bacteria and Archaea
                                                                                              1. Decomposition Processes
                                                                                                1. Nutrient Regeneration
                                                                                                2. Recycling of Organic Matter
                                                                                                  1. Dissolved Organic Carbon
                                                                                                    1. Bacterial Production
                                                                                                      1. Protozoan Grazing
                                                                                                    2. Keystone Species and their Roles
                                                                                                      1. Definition and Characteristics
                                                                                                        1. Disproportionate Impact
                                                                                                          1. Community Structure Effects
                                                                                                          2. Examples of Keystone Species
                                                                                                            1. Sea Otters
                                                                                                              1. Sharks
                                                                                                                1. Coral Species
                                                                                                                2. Impacts on Ecosystem Structure
                                                                                                                  1. Trophic Cascades
                                                                                                                    1. Habitat Modification
                                                                                                                3. Biogeochemical Cycles
                                                                                                                  1. The Marine Carbon Cycle
                                                                                                                    1. Carbon Reservoirs
                                                                                                                      1. Dissolved Inorganic Carbon
                                                                                                                        1. Dissolved Organic Carbon
                                                                                                                          1. Particulate Organic Carbon
                                                                                                                          2. Biological Pump
                                                                                                                            1. Primary Production
                                                                                                                              1. Sinking Particles
                                                                                                                                1. Deep Ocean Storage
                                                                                                                                2. Carbon Sequestration
                                                                                                                                  1. Long-term Storage
                                                                                                                                    1. Blue Carbon Ecosystems
                                                                                                                                  2. The Nitrogen Cycle
                                                                                                                                    1. Nitrogen Forms
                                                                                                                                      1. Nitrate
                                                                                                                                        1. Nitrite
                                                                                                                                          1. Ammonia
                                                                                                                                            1. Dissolved Organic Nitrogen
                                                                                                                                            2. Nitrogen Fixation
                                                                                                                                              1. Diazotrophic Bacteria
                                                                                                                                                1. Cyanobacteria
                                                                                                                                                2. Nitrification and Denitrification
                                                                                                                                                  1. Oxidation Processes
                                                                                                                                                    1. Reduction Processes
                                                                                                                                                      1. Oxygen Minimum Zones
                                                                                                                                                    2. The Phosphorus Cycle
                                                                                                                                                      1. Phosphorus Sources
                                                                                                                                                        1. Terrestrial Inputs
                                                                                                                                                          1. Atmospheric Deposition
                                                                                                                                                            1. Upwelling
                                                                                                                                                            2. Biological Uptake
                                                                                                                                                              1. Phytoplankton Incorporation
                                                                                                                                                                1. Organic Matter Formation
                                                                                                                                                                2. Phosphorus Sinks
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Sediment Burial
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Deep Water Storage
                                                                                                                                                                  2. The Silicon Cycle
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Silicon Sources
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Weathering Inputs
                                                                                                                                                                        1. River Transport
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Role in Diatom Growth
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Frustule Formation
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Silica Requirements
                                                                                                                                                                            2. Cycling Processes
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Dissolution
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Regeneration

                                                                                                                                                                          Previous

                                                                                                                                                                          5. Marine Life and Biodiversity

                                                                                                                                                                          Go to top

                                                                                                                                                                          Next

                                                                                                                                                                          7. Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems