Oceanography of Hawai‘i

I.                   Oceanography of Hawai‘i

A.     A short introduction of Oceanography

B.    How the Oceanography of Hawai‘i relate to Marine Protected Species

                        •  Who is here?

                        •  How did they get here?

II.                 Four Main Groups of Marine Protected Species

A.     Marine Turtles,  Marine Birds , Marine Mammals,  Reef Fish

III.              Marine Protected Species (MPS)

A.     Today – Oceanography and Distribution

                        •  Why are the particular species that we see in Hawai‘i found here?

B.    Next Week – Biology of Marine Protected Species

IV.             Oceanography and Distribution

A.     The distribution of MPS is a result of

a.    Distribution of Food Resources

•  Determined by Oceanographic Conditions

b.    Distribution of Additional Resources Needed for Reproduction

•  E.g. Good Beaches and/or Nesting Areas for Monk Seals, Sea Birds, and Turtles

V.               Hawai‘i

A.     Most Isolated Landmass on Earth

VI.             Basic Oceanography

A.     Global Distribution of Solar Radiation

                        Creates Global Wind Patterns, which

                        Creates Global Current Patterns

B.    Earth’s Rotation causes the Coreolis Force

VII.          Global Distribution of Solar Radiation

A.     Varies with Latitude

B.    Heat Redistributed along Gradient

C.    Variation Creates Temperature Zones

VIII.        Global Wind Patterns

A.     Wind Belts

B.    Coreolis Force Deflects Winds

IX.             Ocean Currents (Pacific)

A.     Trade Winds Cause Strong, Consistant Currents

a.    North & South Equatorial Currents

B.    Coreolis Force Deflects Currents

X.               Pacific Ocean Surface Currents

A.     Wind-driven Currents

B.    Pressure Driven Currents

C.    Forms North Pacific Gyre

XI.             Upwelling in Surface Currents

A.     Currents Rotate due to Coreolis Force

a.    Upwelling of Nutrient Rich Water

B.    Upwelling in Equatorial Current System

a.    Creates a Band of Nutrients along edge

C.    Rich Food Source for MPS

XII.          Seasonal Changes in the North Pacific Gyre

A.     Winter — Southward Shift

B.     Summer — Northward Shift

a.    N. Equatorial Current Reach Hawai‘i

i.    Brings in Animals such as Ahi

ii.  Probably how many marine mammals and birds got here

XIII.        Thermocline

A.     Stable Year Around in Tropics & Subtropics

B.    Blocks upwelling

a.    Limits Primary Productivity

b.    Creates Desert-Like Conditions

XIV.      Primary Productivity

A.      Photosynthesis by Phytoplankton

B.    Only in top 200 meters in Hawai‘i  (Photic Zone)

C.    Limited by availability of nutrients

XV.         Local Conditions in Hawai‘i

XVI.       Average Surface Flow

XVII.    Wind Passing Land Create

XVIII. Convergence & Divergence Zones

A.     Upwelling and Down welling

XIX.      Currents Flowing Past Land Create

A.     Eddies

a.    Upwelling, Down welling

XX.         Oceanography and Distribution of MPS

XXI.       Oceanic Food Chain (Web)

A.     Phytoplankton – Photosythesis

B.    Zooplankton – Herbivores

C.    Zooplankton – Carnivores

D.    Fish – Planktivores

E.     Fish, Squid, Marine Protected Species

XXII.    Oceanography and Distribution

A.     Distribution of Additional Resources Needed for Reproduction

a.    E.g. Good Beaches and/or Nesting Areas

XXIII. Reproductive Needs Shelter & Nesting

XXIV.                        Coral Reefs

A.     Near-shore habitat

B.    Food resource for monk seals

C.    Based on Symbiotic Relationship between

a.    Coral Polyp

b.    Zooxanthellae (photosynthetic algae)

c.     Does not Need a lot of nutrients in the water