What is micropatchiness, and what factors give rise to micropatchiness in the open sea?

What will be an ideal response?


Micropatchiness is the phenomenon whereby planktonic organisms along with microorganisms such as bacteria congregate around slowly sinking organic particles of marine snow. The bacteria will first colonize the marine snow. This attracts phytoplankton, which make use of the nutrients released by the decomposing activities of bacteria. Finally, zooplankton are attracted by the enriched marine snow as a food source as well as by the abundant phytoplankton. The ultimate result is that in the open ocean where nutrients are scarce, planktonic organisms are more concentrated around sinking particles that they are in the surrounding water, thus creating patches.

Biology & Microbiology

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A temperate phage

A. may be lysogenic. B. may be lytic. C. enters a lysogenic or lytic life cycle shortly after entering the host cell. D. are all RNA viruses. E. may be lysogenic AND enters a lysogenic or lytic life cycle shortly after entering the host cell.

Biology & Microbiology

An epitope is ____

a. the antigen binding site of an antibody molecule b. found only in IgG and IgM c. part of an antigen that binds to a specific antibody d. too small to stimulate an immune response e. a complement protein that initiates lysis of target cells

Biology & Microbiology

Nitrogen is released into the atmosphere by:

a. nitrogen fixation b. denitrification c. nitrification d. ammonification e. decomposition

Biology & Microbiology

Kool-Aid readily dissolves in water. This means that Kool-Aid is

a. an acid. b. hydrophilic. c. hydrophobic. d. a base. e. a buffer.

Biology & Microbiology