Marine Biology

Sara Burkinshaw





English III Honors
Mr. Piatak
February 27, 2014





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Sara Burkinshaw
Mr. Piatak
English III Honors
February 27, 2014
Marine Biology
The phrase marine biology often conjures up images of dolphins and other lively sea
creatures, but the field of marine biology covers a much broader range of subjects. Marine
biology covers all life in the ocean from microscopic plankton, to stationary kelp forests, to
enormous blue whales. Marine biologists study all forms of marine life to make discoveries of
new species, collect data on known species, determine how the delicate marine ecosystems work,
predict the future of endangered sea creatures, and many other interesting things. The term
marine biology encompasses a complex and interesting career defined as the study of all life in
the ocean and this paper covers aspects of marine biology necessary to know in order to go
down the path of a marine biologist.
The ocean covers the majority of Earths surface, therefore it and the creatures living in it
greatly affect the entire planet. Marine biologists study the role marine life plays in the well-
being of the planet, as well as humans effect on the world. Humans constantly alter this planet
and do what we please to it. Much of what humans do affects the oceans and their inhabitants.
Marine biologists study peoples effect on the marine world and determine ways to help sea
creatures. Big or small, plant or animal, every species living in the ocean contains value. Marine
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biologists work hard to save and protect the oceans beautiful and mysterious creatures. They
study them and learn as much about them as they can in order to preserve them and their wonder.
The ocean holds an amazing world that remains unseen by most, but holds some of the
most unique and remarkable creatures on Earth. Scientists know more about the moon than the
oceans of their own planet. Scientists have not yet discovered every species, and the known
aquatic species have the tendency to be quite unique.
The first step on the journey of a future marine biologist lies in high school. Students who
aspire to go down the path of a marine biologist must start preparing for their future at a young
age and educate themselves on the topic as much as possible. Students should take as many
science classes as they can in order to build up a background in the scientific field. Chemistry,
physics, biology, and geology classes would help the student to gain an understanding of the
scientific world (Mowry). The classes also help students to better understand how the marine
world works.
Chemistry helps to understand the chemical aspects of the ocean. Many chemical
processes take place within the ocean, so taking a chemistry class certainly seems like a good
idea. Physics helps within the field of marine biology because physics plays a big part in any
ecosystem. Therefore, one cannot hope to make a living as a marine biologist without a strong
physics background. Biology looks like the most obvious important course, due to the fact that
the name of the desired career shares the name of this class. Biology gives the student an
understanding of how plants and animals work in general and then later, in college, the student
can take more marine-specific biology courses. Geology pertains to marine biology because if
one has an understanding of geology, one has an understanding of the habitat of the organisms
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they study. If a student takes all of these classes in high school, they have already set themselves
up for a successful journey on the way to a successful career in marine biology.
Although the classes one takes in high school hold importance, one must also educate
oneself outside of school. If a student has interest in the field of marine biology, they must
educate themselves outside of school. These conventions must pertain to the field of marine
biology and the student must also conduct research projects on the field of marine biology. They
should also do marine-themed science projects. A future marine biologist must do all of these
things on their own time if a career in marine biology truly interests them. They must have the
motivation to learn about marine biology as much as possible if they desire a successful career as
a marine biologist.
If one wishes to work in the field of marine biology, one must take language courses in
addition to science courses in high school. Language courses will help with writing reports and
proposals, which one must write when collecting data and research.
Anyone who wishes to pursue a career in marine biology must attend a college with good
science programs. The University of North Carolina Wilmington has such programs. Their
marine biology program attracts the most attention. Their location, capable staff, technology, and
programs all make UNCW a top choice when looking at colleges that would fit this particular
career path. This school also offers student mentorship, which will provide further understanding
of this career (Finelli). Many students at this school who major in marine biology obtain very
good jobs in this field upon graduating.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill holds another top spot on the list of
schools for marine biology. Chapel Hill offers a wide variety of marine science programs, such
as courses on global warming, extreme microorganisms, and marine biology. These programs
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require a large amount of research, which prepares the students for their future careers in marine
biology. Chapel Hill also has field studies, which allow for students to get hands-on experience
("UNC Marine Sciences"). This school allows for students to get the education and experience
needed to have a successful career in marine biology.
While in college, no matter which one someone attends, the courses taken hold much
importance regarding getting the education needed for a career in this field. Required courses
include a variety of biology and aquaculture courses. Such courses include marine invertebrate
biology, biological oceanography, and marine ecology. These courses hold importance due to the
fact that they provide necessary information to work with marine life of any kind. One cannot
pursue this career without taking biology and aquaculture courses, but mathematics and
technology courses also help a future marine biologist (Szulgit). While science courses hold the
most importance, future marine scientists also require other courses.
Field studies also hold great importance pertaining to a career in marine biology. One
cannot gain the necessary experience without conducting real research and collecting real data
out in the water as well as in the lab. Internships and volunteer work pertaining to the ocean
would also contain great value. Without these important experiences, one cannot possibly hope
to gain the preparation needed to enter the world of marine biology.
The required degrees for any future marine biologist include at least an undergraduate
degree, but a Ph.D. would provide more job opportunities and would help ones career move in
the desired direction. A successful career in marine biology requires many years of school, much
more than just a four year university. Because graduate work is often supported by work outside
of one's dissertation topic, there can be a lot of demands on one's time outside of classes,
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research, and dissertation writing, says Dr. Carin Ashjian, a biological oceanographer at Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Marine biologists perform a wide variety of work. Many different branches of marine
biology exist within this broader term. They study many kinds of marine life from plants to fish
to mammals to microorganisms. They also do a variety of different types of studies. Different
marine biologists collect data, study animal behavior, study environmental issues, study the
anatomy of sea creatures, study the evolution of sea organisms, and many other tasks. Marine
biology consists of many individual, specialized jobs under a broad term of one career.
The average marine biologist makes approximately $31,000-$34,000 per year at the
beginning of their career, although their salary can rise to approximately $47,000 per year
("Career Directions: Details"). Marine biologists can find employment at places such as marine
laboratories, government departments, universities, and fisheries. Every day in their jobs, marine
biologists must work hard on their projects. They perform the necessities to complete their
projects and obtain the desired information. Such tasks include monitoring an animals behavior,
observing microorganisms under a microscope, testing fish for toxins released into the ocean by
pollution, and any other research and experiments that may pertain to the project.
Many consider marine biology a single career, but it refers to a broad term that consists
of many branches ("Careers in Marine Biology"). Some of these branches include marine
mammalogy, natural history, taxonomy and systematics, anatomy and physiology, ethology, and
ecology. Marine mammalogy focuses on the mammals living in the ocean. Natural history
studies how individual marine species live. Taxonomy and systematics involves classifying
organisms and studying the evolution of organisms. Anatomy and physiology describes the study
of the physical parts of sea creatures and how they work and what they do. The branch of
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ethology encompasses the study of the behavior of ocean organisms. Ecology describes how a
marine organism reacts to its environment. Each of these fields requires all of the basic education
for marine biology, but they also require specific courses pertaining to that particular topic.
These branches contribute to the field of marine biology as a whole and provide further
understanding of the marine world and the creatures that inhabit it.
These branches contribute to marine biology as a whole because they each represent a
piece of the puzzle of the marine biology field. They all focus on specific aspects of marine
biology that can put all their information together to give us a better understanding of the
magnificent life that thrives in the ocean. The specialization of the different branches allows
marine biologists to study one particular type of organism, which allows for the scientist to know
more about the topic and devote more time to their particular branch. Although the field divides
into specific, specialized branches, if a scientist wanted to they could specialize in more than one
branch. If a marine biologist possesses enough passion about multiple topics, they would have
the motivation to get the proper education needed for multiple branches of this field. They could
conduct all the necessary research and experiments along with follow all the correct procedures.
Many marine biologists choose to only specialize in one field, but many others choose to
specialize in multiple fields. In the end, motivation, passion, and preference determine how many
branches a marine biologist specializes in.
Many job opportunities arise for aspiring marine biologists. Companies and organizations
often hire marine biologists to work with them in order to complete projects and gain
professional insight. Oceana, one such organization, hires marine biologists to give them
qualified help with their ocean protection campaigns. Marine biologists working for Oceana will
carry out research, write reviews, reports, and policy recommendations, and similar tasks
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(Marine Scientist). Oceana needs marine biologists to provide the information needed to
conduct educated campaigns.
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission also hires marine biologists to assist with
completing tasks with the necessary professional knowledge. Pacific States Marine Fisheries
Commission needs marine biologists to conduct research on the survival of salmon swimming
through dams. The marine biologists working for this company will assist in the tagging, sorting,
distributing, and transferring of juvenile salmon. They will record observations of the salmon,
enter and organize data on the salmon, monitor faculty systems and equipment, monitor water
quality, collect biological data, and similar duties. In order to acquire this position, the marine
biologists must have knowledge on fishery biology, the scientific method, computers, technical
writing protocols, statistics and mathematics, database management, and programming languages
("Careers :: Job Detail." ). In order to work jobs like this, a marine biologist must also possess
physical strength and the willingness to spend a large amount of time outdoors.
In addition to taking jobs at companies and organizations, marine biologists often find
work at research facilities. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, a research facility, is a first-
class ocean science and exploration non-profit organization. The scientists at WHOI vary in
specialties, due to the fact that WHOI studies all aspects of the Ocean. WHOI aims to understand
the ocean and its interaction with the planet as a whole through research and exploration and to
share this knowledge with the world for the benefit of society. Therefore, marine biologists find
WHOI as a desirable place to find work (WHOI). Here they can do the research they love with a
respectable, well-known company and help the world to better understand aquatic creatures and
their importance to this world.
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While marine biologists and dolphin trainers differ in definition, some marine biologists
do work at aquariums. Miami Seaquarium hires marine biologists to perform duties such as
overseeing a team of aquarists, providing training to aquarists, maintaining tanks, and assisting
with acquiring new animals. Aquariums need marine biologists to make sure that the fish stay
healthy and that the tanks remain suitable environments for their inhabitants. According to Jodi
Tuzinski, in order to work at an aquarium, a marine scientist must have at least a Bachelors
Degree in Marine Science, know how to take care of saltwater fish, possess the ability to
communicate effectively, possess physical strength, have the ability to work in all climate
conditions, and have scuba diving experience.
In order to fully understand what a marine biologist does, one must know some
background information on the field. The study of marine biology began with Captain James
Hook, an 18
th
century British explorer, and his mapping expeditions. He charted many of the
previously uncharted waters and documented many plants and animals whose existence people
had previously had no knowledge of. After Cook, many scientists followed in his footsteps and
decided to conduct research and experiments in order unveil the mysteries of the ocean.
Over the years, marine scientists have set out on countless expeditions and made
countless observations. Charles Darwins HMS Beagle expedition and Sir Charles Wyville
Thomsons HMS Challenger expedition greatly contributed to the field of marine biology. Both
Darwin and Thomson obtained and studied many marine organisms and recorded their findings.
This data built the foundation for the career of marine science.
Marine scientists do not only make discoveries in the field, but also in the laboratory. The
title of the oldest marine laboratory in the world belongs to the Station Biologique de Roscoff in
Concarneau, France. Marine scientists use this laboratory, founded by the College of France in
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1859, to conduct research on molecular biology, biochemistry, and environmental studies
(MarineBio.org). Laboratory studies and experiments are necessary because they provide helpful
insight into the basic structure of aquatic organisms.
Through expeditions, explorations, research studies, and experiments marine biologists
constantly discover new marine organisms and new information about known species. For
example, recent studies have shown that certain species of algae can detect light of multiple
colors. Typically plants only detect red light so they can move towards the source of the light and
grow, but these species of algae can also detect orange, green, and blue light (Marine algae can
sense the rainbow). Many other discoveries have been made in the realm of marine science that
change the way that humans look at the aquatic world.
Many different types of organisms thrive in the ocean, and they all live in different
habitats. The ocean consists of four zones; the intertidal zone, the neritic zone, the oceanic zone,
and the abyssal plain. As the ocean gets deeper, its properties change and therefore it can support
different kinds of organisms. The shallow, sunlit zone with a wide variety of sea creatures
describes the intertidal zone. Most of the creatures that we think of when we think of the ocean
live in this zone ("Intertidal Zone"). The neritic zone exists above the Continental shelf and
contains many of the fish that humans fish for in large numbers to supply food to their
population. An abundance of plankton accounts for the abundance of large fish in this zone (B.,
Jonathan and D., Wade). The oceanic zone extends to the open ocean beyond the continental
shelf. The depth of this zone exceeds 200 meters (Oceanic Zone). The abyssal plain rests on
the ocean floor (Abyssal Plain). Many strange creatures thrive in this dark, cold zone
Many famous biologists have contributed to this field, such as Dr. Eugenie Clark. Clark
specializes in shark research and has received several awards and honors for her research, as well
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as published multiple works. Many consider her to hold the title of the top shark expert in the
world ("Mote Marine Laboratory: Dr. Eugenie Clark"). Sylvia Earle, another world renowned
marine scientist, focuses more on the conservation of the ocean and its inhabitants. Earle has
made much advancement in the field, especially as a woman, such as leading an all-female
research expedition on the ocean floor 50 feet below the surface near the Virgin Islands. On this
expedition the scientists lived in a small structure on the ocean floor for two weeks in order to
conduct research. Later in life she became the Chief Scientist of the National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration. Here she helped to monitor the health of the ocean waters. She also
oversaw the Ocean in Google Earth project ("Sylvia Earle Biography").
The ocean plays a big role in the health of the planet. The ocean helps to regulate weather
patterns because the ocean absorbs or releases heat depending on the time of day and year. Also,
the ocean consists of large amounts of water, so it plays a large role in the water cycle and
precipitation. The ocean also affects winds, such as the trade winds, that affect the entire planet
("The Oceans and Weather Patterns"). In addition to weather, the ocean also affects the health of
Earth with its natural resources. Many land animals such as birds and humans depend on the
ocean for food sources. Humans eat the fish that live within the ocean, as well as use other
resources in the ocean for other purposes. Humans use the minerals in the ocean to make
products and the oil found beneath the ocean floor for fuel. Humans also use the ocean as a
means of transportation and recreation. People need the ocean to transport goods and they love
using the ocean for recreational activities. People like to go to the beach to swim, relax, play,
collect shells, and observe aquatic animals. The ocean plays a vital part in human culture.
The ocean itself holds importance, but the creatures living in the ocean also greatly
impact human life. The majority of people all over the world eat fish, and the majority of that
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fish comes from marine fishing industries. Without the ocean, many people would not have the
ability to provide enough food for themselves and their families. Fish constitutes a large portion
of the human diet worldwide.
The ocean consists of many marine ecosystems that contribute to the ocean and the
planes as a whole. For instance, coral reefs house thousands of different types of fish and coral
and therefore increase biodiversity. They also use up a lot of carbon dioxide, so without coral
reefs there too much carbon dioxide would exist in the water and this would affect living
organisms everywhere ("Importance of Coral Reefs). Everything in the ocean contributes to
the delicate balance of life on Earth.
In conclusion, the oceans contain many majestic and important organisms, and people
should learn about these organisms as much as possible so that they can better protect them and
our oceans. By learning about the ocean, people can gain a better understanding of its mysterious
beauty and the world as a whole. If people can preserve the oceans, they can preserve the
delicate balance of this planets life. The ocean is full of life and that life contributes to all life on
Earth.








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