Biology is the scientific study of living things. Biology is the scientific study of living things.

Marine Biology is the study of all organisms that live in the sea. Marine Biology is the study of all organisms that live in the sea. Marine biology Marine biology studies began in the shallow areas of the oceans, where life was first obviously studies began in the shallow areas of the oceans, where life was first obviously spotted. Studies also began there because it was easily accessible during low spotted. Studies also began there because it was easily accessible during low tides. To study life in the deeper parts of the ocean, nets were one of the first tides. To study life in the deeper parts of the ocean, nets were one of the first tools used. With the invention of scuba diving equipment, marine biologists are tools used. With the invention of scuba diving equipment, marine biologists are now able to study marine life in their natural habitats.now able to study marine life in their natural habitats.

A Marine Biologist’s job has become very A Marine Biologist’s job has become very important as people have increased their use of important as people have increased their use of marine life for food and sport (fishing). Marine marine life for food and sport (fishing). Marine biologists, like regular biologists, describe and biologists, like regular biologists, describe and classify organisms. Also like regular biologists, classify organisms. Also like regular biologists, they study the organisms to find out how they they study the organisms to find out how they grow and develop, how they get grow and develop, how they get

food, how they reproduce, how they food, how they reproduce, how they

interact with other organisms ininteract with other organisms in

the water and outside of it,the water and outside of it,

and why they live in the areas they do.and why they live in the areas they do.

One of the biggest problems facing marine life today is endangerment and extinction. There are three basic ways we can lessen this occurrence. Buy fewer prepackaged goods

Drive slower

Share magazines and books

Minimize the use of heat and air conditioning

Containers

Bottles (wine bottles)

Some corks

Shopping bags

Paper

Aluminum

Bottles

Spread of disease

Pollution

Destruction of habitat

Fishing

Shallow water marine species who breathe air (turtles, manatees, whales) can be hit by boats or get caught in fishing gear

Turtles often lose their eggs because they lay them on land

It is hard to find out which marine species are It is hard to find out which marine species are endangered or extinct because of the size, endangered or extinct because of the size, depth, and unexplored areas of the ocean. depth, and unexplored areas of the ocean. Families such as whales, dolphins, manatees, Families such as whales, dolphins, manatees, salmon, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks have salmon, seabirds, sea turtles, and sharks have endangered species.endangered species.

The ICUN Red List’s aim is The ICUN Red List’s aim is is to provide an easy is to provide an easy classification key where classification key where animals are sorted by animals are sorted by their extinction risk.their extinction risk.

Made to protect endangered species native to Made to protect endangered species native to the areathe area

Provided a limited amount of protectionProvided a limited amount of protection

Passed to provide additional protection to Passed to provide additional protection to species in danger of worldwide extinctionspecies in danger of worldwide extinction

Prohibited the import and sale of endangered Prohibited the import and sale of endangered speciesspecies

The Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and The Endangered Species The Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 and The Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 led to the Convention on International Trade in Conservation Act of 1969 led to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Faund and Flora (CITES) in Washington in 1973. The Endangered Species of Wild Faund and Flora (CITES) in Washington in 1973. The convention led to the:convention led to the:

The most significant environmental laws in AmericaThe most significant environmental laws in America

Created because of the United States Fish and Wildlife Created because of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)(NMFS)

There are currently 1,855 listings (endangered and There are currently 1,855 listings (endangered and threatened) under the ESAthreatened) under the ESA

1,290 of them are U.S. listings 1,290 of them are U.S. listings

The listing of an endangered species generally protects The listing of an endangered species generally protects the species from "take”the species from "take” (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill,

trap, capture, or collect)trap, capture, or collect) under Federal lawunder Federal law

Federal agencies are also obligated to carry out programs Federal agencies are also obligated to carry out programs for the conservation of speciesfor the conservation of species

After a species is listed, a recovery plan is prepared that After a species is listed, a recovery plan is prepared that identifies conservation measures to help the species identifies conservation measures to help the species recover. recover.

March 24, 1989, shortly after midnight, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska

it spilled over 11 million gallons of gasoline into the Sound

it was the largest oil spill in U.S. history

burning, mechanical cleaning, and chemical dispersants were three ways of cleanup

the oil killed and injured many marine organisms

no one knows the definite amount of deaths

scientists have predictions though:

250,000 seabirds

2,800 sea otters

300 harbor seals

250 bald eagles

up to 22 killer whales

billions of salmon and herring eggs died immediately

Enhydra lutris

endangered species

about 4-5 pounds at birth

adults weigh up to 120 pounds and are 3-4 feet long (plus their 15 inch tail)

eat sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and abalone

live in the Northern Pacific (Alaska, Russia) and there is a small population in northern California

they live for about 10-11 years

first became endangered when they were hunted for their fur in the 1800s

Paretroplus menarambo

freshwater fish found in Madagascar

about 18-20 inches long

extinct in the wild: deforestation and over fishing

bred in captivity and sold

in the wild they probably ate mostly mollusks

in home aquariums they eat dried foods, frozen invertebrate foods, and cultured snails

• Chaetodon flavocoronatus

• not much is known about them

• found in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands

• 5 inches long

• omnivores

Monachus schauinslandi

found on northwestern Hawaiian islands

live a solitary existence

most endangered of all seals (only about 1500 in the world)

feed on fishes and invertebrates (Spiny lobsters, Eels, Flatfish, Small Reef fish, Larval fish, octopus’)

Adult females are slightly larger than adult males

Males weigh 300-400 pounds Females weigh 400-600 pounds Newborn pups weigh 30-40 pounds

live about 25-30 years

Callagur borneoensis

found in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Borneo

around 50-70 centimeters long

adult females are larger than adult males

weigh about 1.7 kg

mainly eat fruits and greenery from riverside plants and from mangroves

most endangered river turtles

eggs are sold for human consumption in Asia

habitat and breeding site destruction are the reason for the decline of the population

Trichechus manatus

found on the southern coast of the United States as far down as Brazil

live in shallow waters

live about 50 years

females are usually larger

average weight is 400-800 pounds

feed 6-8 hours per day

mostly eat plants (sea grass)

Sousa chinensis

adult dolphin is pink

220-250 centimeters in length

weigh about 150-230 kg

found in Southeast Asia

Pristis microdon endangered freshwater fish found in the Indo-West Pacific often gets tangled in fishing nets eat bony fish and mollusks weigh around 600 kg 656 cm long live around 30 years