Ocean habitats

Figure 16.5 A conceptualized view of the new versus regenerated N model based on the classic work of Dugdale and Goering (1967). Shown are two contrasting marine ecosystems (Left) an upwelling habitat where allochthonous NO3 -supported new production dominates total primary productivity, and (Right) an open ocean habitat where locally produced NH4+-supported regenerated production dominates total primary productivity. New production-intensive biomes also support much greater export per unit area, usually in the form of sinking particulate matter, than remineralization-intensive systems like the North Pacific trades biome.

In summary, the marine environment contains a wealth of plants, animals and microorganisms. Due to their unique adaptations to their ocean habitat, they contain a wide diversity of natural products. These compounds have shown activity in a variety of assays which have relevance to human diseases. As our understanding of the molecular basis of disease expands, these compounds and ones yet to be discovered will provide lead compounds for human therapeutic treatment. Innovations in synthesis, fermentation of symbionts as well as in manipulation of biosynthetic genes will allow us to produce sufficient material for clinical use of the compounds. Marine organisms provide a unique opportunity for access to chemical diversity. 

Pinet, Paul R. Invitation to Oceanography. Sudbury, Mass. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2000. Includes explanations of the causes and effects of tides and currents, as well as the origins of ocean habitats. 

Thome-Miller, Boyce, and John G. Catena. The Living Ocean. Washington, D.C. Friends of the Earth, f99f. A study of the loss of diversity in ocean habitats. 

Boats have been designed and built up to at least 37 x 9 m (120 x 30 ft.) in RP. Plastics have become vital for operating within the sea. In 1965 extensive test were conducted by the U.S. Navy Sealab 11 to assay man s ability to live and work in ocean depths for long periods of time (Fig. 2-56). For forty-five days three groups of ten men each lived fifteen-day periods in a 57 ft. x 12 ft. habitat at a depth of 188 m (205 ft.) one half mile off La Jolla, Calif. Plastic parts as well as other materials were used to provide a highly successful experiment. 

Bjorge A. 2001. How persistent are marine mammal habitats in an ocean of variability In Evans PGH, Raga JA, editors. Marine mammals biology and conservation. New York (NY) Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. 

The first step in discovering a marine natural product lead compound involves accumulating collections of the source organisms. Ideally the collections would include as many species as possible collected from a large number of sites reflecting the wide diversity of habitats found in the world s oceans. The development of SCUBA and both manned and remotely operated (ROV) submersibles has provided the technology required to effectively collect algae and invertebrate specimens from most marine habitats. Consequently, the major issue... 

Beetles (Coleoptera) comprise the most species-rich insect order. About 350,000 species have been described today, about 10% of the estimated actual amount. Apart from open oceans, beetles are colonizing almost every habitat and are able... 

Life evolved soon after Earth s formation, befiare any continents were present, during a time when the oceans were chemically and thermally controlled by tectonic processes. Thus, it has been proposed that the life evolved in hot anaerobic submarine environments similar to present-day hydrothermal vent systems. This hypothesis is supported by the observation of structures, thought to be the remains of protocells, in rocks formed by hydrothermal processes 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago. Thus, the first organisms on Earth were probably anaerobic hyperthermophiles. Hydrothermal vent habitats probably offered an additional benefit by providing a stable environment relatively isolated from the catastrophic effects of bolide impacts. In other words, submarine hydrothermal vents coifld have acted as refugia enabling survival of early life forms. 

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