Module 9: Oceans

• oceans have a higher ion concentration, mainly sodium and chloride
• oceans have decreased land carbon input, mainly in coastal areas
• what gases are found in oceans?

  CO2, oxygen and nitrogen
• where in the ocean is oxygen found?

  top 20 meters and ocean floor
• downwelling: occurs near poles, pushes water down where there is nothing living to consume oxygen
• euphotic zone: up until 1% of light remains, depends on amount of particulates
• taxonomy patterns in oceans change with relative location to poles/equator
• pelagibacter: oligotroph (low nutrients) found in seawater
• pelagibacter is chemoheterotroph, relies on primary producers for carbon
• palagibacter has slow growth and small genome
• pelagibacter has proteorhodopsin, not photosynthetic
• prochlorococcus (cyanobacteria): subtropical/tropical oceans, grows in low light/deep depth
• synechococcus (cyanobacteria): found in all oceans, obligate photoautotrophs (light energy and inorganic carbon source)
• deep sea ocean vents: volcanic activity between tectonic plates, high pressure
• how do deep sea ocean vents work?

  1. water seeps into cracks and picks up nutrients
  2. re-enters sea through chimneys and releases ions
• what are the 4 types of deep sea microbes?

  sulfide oxidizers, methanogens, methylotrophs and hydrogen oxidizers
• geoglobus ahangari uses Fe3+ as terminal e- acceptor
• how does geoglobus ahangari grow?

  chemolithotrophically (energy from inorganic compounds) on H2
• gegolobus ahangari is a thermophile and acetate sink
• thermococcus atalanticus is an obligate anaerobe
• how does thermococcus atlanticus grow?

  on protein/peptide substrates
• thermococcus atlanticus is a thermophile and heterotroph (organic carbon source)
• what nutrients do tube worms uptake?

  CO2 and H2S
• how do tube worms use nutrients to make organic matter?

  sulfur oxidizing bacterial symbiont