Chapter 1: The science of Marine biology
The History of marine biology:
Marine biology was first thought of as soon as people saw the oceans, People looked to the oceans as a source of food! today scientists have found Clam bakes or fossilized beds of clams on the ocean floor. Ancient fishing method devices have also been found such as simple hooks to harpoons! As fish were gathered for nutrition purposes some discovered that not all fish were viable choices and contained poison, such as the puffer fish which the Egyptians described as a poisonous fish. 75,000 years ago snail shells were used for necklaces teaching people that there is more value to come from the ocean than food.
Knowledge on the ocean and its inhabitants is ever expanding as we develop better machinery and sea navigation. Ancient Pacific islanders had detailed knowledge of marine life, and that knowledge is still applied to modern Marine biology today. The Phoenicians were the first accomplished Western navigators. by 2000 b.c. they had been sailing around the Mediterranean sea, Red sea, Eastern Atlantic ocean, Black sea, and the Indian ocean. The Ancient Greeks also had a good amount of info on offshore marine life in the Mediterranean shores, Aristotle who lived in the fourth century b.c. is considered by many to be the first marine biologist. He discovered many forms of life and that above everything else that gills were the breathing apparatus for these animals.
During the "Dark Ages" the marine biology and science time came to a sudden halt. Most of the knowledge by the Ancient Greeks was either lost or distorted. However, not all of ocean navigation stopped. During the ninth or tenth century the vikings continued to explore much of the northern Atlantic ocean. In A.D. 995 Leif Eriksson discovered Vinland, what we now call North America. Arab traders were also active during this time, They discovered Asia, India, and Africa! In the Renaissance period or "New World" time Christopher Columbus settled out of Europe and settled into North america.
Challenger Expedition
Edward Forbes- Most influential marine biologist of his day. He noticed that sea life varied at different depths.
Charles Wyville Thompson- Lead the Challenger expedition.
The Challenger set off December 1872 and returned in 1876. Brought back more information than ever previously recorded. Thousands of species were brought back. It was funded by the British Government. Extensive renovations were done in preparation for the expedition. The technology was nothing compared to today's standards, but it was state-of-the-art at the time. It was the first ocean expedition to circumnavigate the world. 19 years were needed to publish the results of the expedition, filling 50 thick volumes. For the first time, scientists began to get a clear picture of what the ocean was like. Overall, it laid the foundation for modern marine science. Other expeditions soon continued the work begun by the challenger, and continue to this day.
Charles Wyville Thompson- Lead the Challenger expedition.
The Challenger set off December 1872 and returned in 1876. Brought back more information than ever previously recorded. Thousands of species were brought back. It was funded by the British Government. Extensive renovations were done in preparation for the expedition. The technology was nothing compared to today's standards, but it was state-of-the-art at the time. It was the first ocean expedition to circumnavigate the world. 19 years were needed to publish the results of the expedition, filling 50 thick volumes. For the first time, scientists began to get a clear picture of what the ocean was like. Overall, it laid the foundation for modern marine science. Other expeditions soon continued the work begun by the challenger, and continue to this day.
The Growth of Marine Labs
Benefits: Organisms could be observed over long periods of time, permanent storage of organisms and materials, and overall convenience.
First permanent labs: The Stazione Zoologica in Naples, Italy, in 1872. In the USA, Woods Hole opened in 1888 at Woods Hole Massachusetts.
Inventions that benefited the growth: Sonar- Originally used in WW2 to detect submarines, but eventually used to measure the depth of oceans via sound waves. Scuba- Originally used to allow cars to run on compressed gas. Jacques Cousteau modified it to allow divers to breath for long periods of time underwater. This allowed divers to go down to depths of about 165 feet, which were unreachable before.
First permanent labs: The Stazione Zoologica in Naples, Italy, in 1872. In the USA, Woods Hole opened in 1888 at Woods Hole Massachusetts.
Inventions that benefited the growth: Sonar- Originally used in WW2 to detect submarines, but eventually used to measure the depth of oceans via sound waves. Scuba- Originally used to allow cars to run on compressed gas. Jacques Cousteau modified it to allow divers to breath for long periods of time underwater. This allowed divers to go down to depths of about 165 feet, which were unreachable before.