Marine Biology

  1. Adaptations of Marine Organisms
    1. Life in a Fluid Medium
      1. Buoyancy Control
        1. Gas Bladders
          1. Swim Bladder Function
            1. Gas Secretion and Resorption
            2. Oil Droplets
              1. Lipid Storage
                1. Density Reduction
                2. Body Shape Adaptations
                  1. Streamlining
                    1. Surface Area Modifications
                  2. Locomotion and Movement
                    1. Fins and Limbs
                      1. Fin Types and Functions
                        1. Limb Modifications
                        2. Jet Propulsion
                          1. Cephalopod Locomotion
                            1. Jellyfish Swimming
                            2. Undulatory Motion
                              1. Body Wave Propulsion
                                1. Fin Wave Propulsion
                              2. Coping with Water Resistance
                                1. Streamlining
                                  1. Body Shape Optimization
                                    1. Drag Reduction
                                    2. Surface Structures
                                      1. Skin Modifications
                                        1. Scale Types
                                    3. Physiological Adaptations
                                      1. Osmoregulation
                                        1. Osmoconformers vs Osmoregulators
                                          1. Salt Glands and Excretion
                                            1. Kidney Function
                                              1. Cellular Osmoregulation
                                              2. Thermoregulation
                                                1. Ectothermy vs Endothermy
                                                  1. Behavioral Thermoregulation
                                                    1. Countercurrent Heat Exchange
                                                      1. Insulation Mechanisms
                                                      2. Respiration
                                                        1. Gills
                                                          1. Gill Structure and Function
                                                            1. Countercurrent Flow
                                                              1. Gill Ventilation
                                                              2. Lungs and Air-Breathing Adaptations
                                                                1. Marine Mammal Lungs
                                                                  1. Diving Adaptations
                                                                  2. Cutaneous Respiration
                                                                    1. Skin Gas Exchange
                                                                  3. Coping with Hydrostatic Pressure
                                                                    1. Cellular Adaptations
                                                                      1. Molecular Adaptations
                                                                        1. Pressure-Resistant Structures
                                                                          1. Gas-Filled Organs
                                                                        2. Sensory Systems in the Marine Environment
                                                                          1. Vision in Water
                                                                            1. Eye Structure and Adaptations
                                                                              1. Light Detection
                                                                                1. Color Vision
                                                                                  1. Bioluminescence Detection
                                                                                  2. Chemoreception
                                                                                    1. Olfactory Systems
                                                                                      1. Taste Systems
                                                                                        1. Chemical Communication
                                                                                          1. Pheromone Detection
                                                                                          2. Mechanoreception
                                                                                            1. Lateral Line System
                                                                                              1. Neuromast Function
                                                                                                1. Water Movement Detection
                                                                                                2. Touch and Pressure Sensors
                                                                                                3. Echolocation and Sound Production
                                                                                                  1. Sonar in Marine Mammals
                                                                                                    1. Biosonar Mechanisms
                                                                                                      1. Sound Production
                                                                                                      2. Sound Communication
                                                                                                        1. Whale Songs
                                                                                                          1. Fish Sounds
                                                                                                        2. Electroreception
                                                                                                          1. Ampullae of Lorenzini
                                                                                                            1. Electric Fields in Prey Detection
                                                                                                              1. Electronavigation
                                                                                                              2. Magnetic Sensing
                                                                                                                1. Magnetic Field Detection
                                                                                                              3. Feeding and Nutrition
                                                                                                                1. Filter Feeding
                                                                                                                  1. Mechanisms and Structures
                                                                                                                    1. Particle Size Selection
                                                                                                                      1. Examples Across Taxa
                                                                                                                      2. Deposit Feeding
                                                                                                                        1. Sediment Ingestion
                                                                                                                          1. Nutrient Extraction
                                                                                                                            1. Bioturbation Effects
                                                                                                                            2. Predation Strategies
                                                                                                                              1. Ambush Predators
                                                                                                                                1. Pursuit Predators
                                                                                                                                  1. Cooperative Hunting
                                                                                                                                    1. Venom and Toxins
                                                                                                                                    2. Herbivory
                                                                                                                                      1. Grazing on Algae
                                                                                                                                        1. Plant Material Processing
                                                                                                                                          1. Digestive Adaptations
                                                                                                                                          2. Symbiotic Nutrition
                                                                                                                                            1. Mutualistic Relationships
                                                                                                                                              1. Endosymbiosis
                                                                                                                                                1. Chemosynthetic Symbiosis
                                                                                                                                              2. Reproduction and Life Histories
                                                                                                                                                1. Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction
                                                                                                                                                  1. Budding and Fragmentation
                                                                                                                                                    1. Parthenogenesis
                                                                                                                                                      1. Gamete Production
                                                                                                                                                      2. Broadcast Spawning
                                                                                                                                                        1. Timing and Synchronization
                                                                                                                                                          1. Environmental Cues
                                                                                                                                                            1. Fertilization Success
                                                                                                                                                            2. Internal Fertilization
                                                                                                                                                              1. Mating Behaviors
                                                                                                                                                                1. Courtship Displays
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Parental Care
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Larval Stages and Dispersal
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Planktonic Larvae
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Larval Development
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Settlement and Metamorphosis
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Dispersal Strategies

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                                                                                                                                                                      3. Diversity of Marine Life

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                                                                                                                                                                      5. Marine Ecology