Teaching About Productivity OOI Workshop by Al Trujillo

Teaching About Productivity OOI Workshop by Al Trujillo Dept. Earth, Space, & Aviation Sciences Palomar College For the Teaching About Productivity OOI Workshop, Rutgers University May 20 -22, 2016

A Fateful NAGT Field Trip into Baja in 1991 1934 -2012 Ensenada

XIII. Productivity and Energy Transfer: Chapter 13 by Al Trujillo Plankton net Topics: Plankton sample A. Photosynthesis and Respiration B. Marine Food Webs C. Productivity D. Regional Oceanic Productivity E. Fisheries

Why Is this Topic Important? A successful student should be able to meet the following Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): • Describe characteristic processes and landforms associated with tectonic plate boundaries • Compare and contrast the oceanic and atmospheric characteristics of El Niño and La Niña • Describe the seasonal pattern of phytoplankton productivity for tropical, middle latitude, and polar oceans

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity • Regional productivity varies mostly because of the development of a thermocline • When a thermocline develops, it prevents the mixing of deeper, nutrient-rich waters from below • Let’s consider 3 ocean regions, all open ocean (e. g. far from land) Low latitudes Smart. Figure 5. 27 a, page 162

Handout #1 D. Regional Oceanic Productivity 1. Polar or high-latitude oceans: >60º north/south latitude Use a single line on the graph at top part of handout only!. . . then hold up paper to show me Figure 13. 18, page 420

What primary productivity in polar regions actually looks like… Handout #1 Phytoplankton Zooplankton

What primary productivity in polar regions actually looks like… Phytoplankton Zooplankton Figure 13. 19 a, page 421

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity 1. Polar or high-latitude oceans: >60º north/south latitude § The length of day really varies, so it’s sunlight (not nutrients) that limits productivity § Get incredible productivity during the spring/summer on land, too Figure 13. 18, page 420

Handout #2 D. Regional Oceanic Productivity 2. Tropical or low-latitude oceans: 0 -30º north/south latitude Figure 13. 18, page 420 As before, use a single line on the graph at top part of handout only!. . . then hold up paper to show me

What primary productivity in tropical regions actually looks like… Handout #2 Phytoplankton Zooplankton

What primary productivity in tropical regions actually looks like… Figure 13. 20, page 422 Phytoplankton Zooplankton

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity 2. Tropical or low-latitude oceans: 0 -30º north/south latitude § There’s good sunlight year-round, so it’s the lack of nutrients caused by a strong, permanent thermocline that limits productivity § “A barren wasteland” except: • Equatorial upwelling • Coastal upwelling • Coral reefs

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity 3. Temperate or middle latitude oceans: 3060º north/south latitude • Work with your Success Team on Middle Latitude Oceanic Productivity worksheet (handout) • Hint: Sunlight varies with the season; when a thermocline develops, it cuts off nutrients. Both of these factors affect productivity!

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity: Middle Latitude Oceans Figure 13. 21, page 423

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity: Comparing Polar, Tropical, and Middle Latitude Oceans Figure 13. 22, page 424

D. Regional Oceanic Productivity • Now let’s work in Success Teams and use the voting envelopes to answer 6 sample exam questions • Do NOT write these questions down or take any pictures! • Open book and open notes • Discuss with your Success Team before voting

Sample Exam Questions: Middle Latitude Productivity 1. In the middle latitude oceans, productivity of marine algae increases during the spring because A. the amount of sunlight is increasing B. a strong thermocline develops C. the length of nighttime is increasing D. there is an abundance of grazers at that time

2. In the middle latitude oceans, there is a/an _____ of nutrients during the spring because ________. A. increase; the days are getting shorter B. decrease; they are getting used up by phytoplankton C. increase; that is when spring tides occur D. decrease; the water column is isothermal

3. Consider the middle latitude oceans. During the winter, the supply of sunlight is _____, and the supply of nutrients is _____. A. maximized; maximized B. maximized; minimized C. minimized; maximized D. minimized; minimized

4. In the middle latitude oceans, the time of highest algae productivity is during A. winter B. spring C. summer D. fall

5. In the middle latitude oceans, there is a well-developed thermocline during the A. winter B. spring C. summer D. fall

6. Which of the following statements best describes the productivity of phytoplankton biomass in tropical oceans? A. Tropical oceans have high levels of productivity in summer B. Tropical oceans have high levels of productivity year-round C. Tropical oceans have high levels of productivity in the spring and fall D. Tropical oceans have low levels of productivity year-round

XIII. Productivity and Energy Transfer: Chapter 13 End Plankton net Plankton sample Ocean chlorophyll