涉海英语读写教程课后答案unit_2汇总.docVIP

Unit 2 Marine Biology Text A Part I Understanding and Learning Background information Marine biology Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla(类群), families and genera(属) have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather than on taxonomy（分类学）. Marine biology differs from marine ecology as marine ecology is focused on how organisms interact with each other and the environment, and biology is the study of the organisms themselves. Marine life is a vast resource, providing food, medicine, and raw materials, in addition to helping to support recreation and tourism all over the world. At a fundamental level, marine life helps determine the very nature of our planet. Marine organisms contribute significantly to the oxygen cycle, and are involved in the regulation of the Earths climate. Shorelines are in part shaped and protected by marine life, and some marine organisms even help create new land. Marine biology covers a great deal, from the microscopic, including most zooplankton and phytoplankton to the huge cetaceans (whales) which reach up to a reported 30 meters (98 feet) in length. Hydrothermal vents A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planets surface from which geothermally heated water issues. Hydrothermal vents are commonly found near volcanically active places, areas where tectonic plates （地壳板块）are moving apart, ocean basins, and hotspots. Hydrothermal vents exist because the earth is both geologically active and has large amounts of water on its surface and within its crust. Common land types include hot springs, fumaroles（喷气孔） and geysers. Under the sea, hydrothermal vents may form features called black smokers. Relative to the majority of the deep sea, the areas around submarine hydrothermal vents are biologically more productive, often hosting complex communities fueled b