The Career of Marine Biology

Rachel Daly

English III Honors

Mrs. Dove

06 December 2018
 Daly 1

Rachel Daly

Mrs. Dove

English III Honors

06 December 2018

The Career of Marine Biology

Oceans cover two-thirds of the earth's surface, and while the ocean surfaces often look

smooth, the oceans teem with life. Oceans provide animal habitats all the way down to the ocean

floor. Oceans, on average, can reach up to 2.5 miles deep, this means it contains about 99.5

percent of the planet's livable habitat. Within that vast space, the oceans inhabits have a huge

range of microscopic organisms, animals, and plant life. As one of the many different types of

biological studies, marine biology provides insight into the world of the ocean and the life inside

through, education requirements, rich history and the inside daily life of a Marine biologist.

To become a Marine biologist, this major requires a graduate to have a Bachelor's but

does not require a Master’s degree. This would take in total about four to six years of college. A

Master's Degree has a high recommendation for other fields of biology. The Bachelor's degree

has many required course including general biology, cell biology, ecology, and evolution. “The

best place to study marine biology is near the ocean but mostly every college offers biology.

(Dore)”

General biology courses recommended in middle and high school, just to get the basics

down. In order to prevail like a successful marine biologist, a graduate needs good

communication skills, and improve writing skills. Also, all biology departments depend on a

solid background in math, physics, and chemistry, and helps to have AP and IB
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classes(Levinton). Core math classes and pre-calculus, calculus and statistics will help a lot in

colleges accepting a student into a school. Science courses should include biology, chemistry,

and physics. Optional courses include AP Marine Biology, AP Environmental science, Ocean

101, and ESRM 150, that teaches Marine biology in the Modern world a course that helps study

what marine biologist’s do(Levinton). Marine Biologist’s help a lot of other companies out with

work and research. High school students should complete a minimum of 150 hours of service

before graduating(Levinton). This will definitely give a student a better personality to a college.

A lot of colleges have camps for marine biology that have a minimum of a week and a maximum

of a month of time to learn about the job.

The bonus of having a degree in biology prepares a graduate for everything this includes;

Statistics, Budget management, and Human Resources. (Gibbs) Think of a scientist as a scout –

always prepared and ready. A marine biologist needs skills in researching, lab tests and

experiments, solving a problem on the spot under pressure, mathematical skills and more

importantly curiosity and patience. (Levinton). Have fun jumping into the water, but marine

biology takes time and effort as well as thinking outside the box to get the full exericane of a

marine biologist. Plus, a biologist should not hold any fear to both get hands and feet wet(Dore).

A biologist should have experience swimming and possibly dive down to great depths.

Obviously.

For most jobs in marine biology, a freshman will spend a lot more time in front of a

computer writing grants, analyzing data, and writing reports than a professional will spend in the

field interacting with animals(Levinton). A lot of behind the scenes work has to happen to make

things possible to do. Writing skills stay crucial to marine biologists. In course, students write
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three papers. Communication in writing makes a difference between those who succeed and

those who wind up on dead-end jobs with relatively little reward and advancement(Levinton).

A way to get noticed by colleges for a marine biologist, volunteering(Dore). A marine

scientist named Melissa Dore, who works at Nova Southeastern University suggests that high

schoolers should volunteer at a local park or local lake and learn about fishes different behaviors

to different types of weather and ph levels. And other volunteering jobs can help a lot, it does not

have to revolve around the ocean, that just looks better on a high schoolers record. Having an

application that stands out will most likely help a student get into college(Dore). Volunteering,

jobs, an internship and creating clubs and programs will really help a student stand out. For

example, cleaning up the local beaches or highways but most importantly grades remain the

number one thing to colleges.

Freshman should have a good steady GPA and test scores will come into colleges. A

marine biologist GPA should have a minimum of 2.0 and a maximum of 4.0. (Levinton) Mostly

anyone can get into this program with hard work and determination. Students SAT and ACT

scores, very important as well in the biology department. For the ACT a score should have no

less than an 18’ for the SAT a score should have no less than an 860 (both Reading and Math

added up) A student should have about 12 college credits. Freshman should rank in about the top

50% of high schools. Students should keep in mind that these scores may vary by schools and

location(Levinton).

Different colleges require about 16 or more units before entering a colleges radar. About

four years of English, about one year each in algebra and geometry, two years in a foreign

language but would love to see more, one year of American History and at least one year of
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laboratory science. For future marine biologist, students might want to spend more than a year

for this class but again this many very by colleges.

Getting a degree in Marine Biology will help students get closer to the ocean and its

wildlife inside and this could lead to many different career options

Aristotle, the father of Marine Biology, logged the first ideas about these creatures that

could breathe underwater. The history of Marine biology began about 1200 BC. Aristotle wrote

about mollusks and fish. His journals hold the first ever recorded on this type of marine life. As

many explorers moved to the New world a man named Captain James Cook, started mapping the

uncharted waters the explorers explored. During that Cook, started logging all the different

species he saw on the way. These species remained unknown to mankind during this time.

Cook’s voyages began the modern-day study of Marine biology. In 1871, a man named Baird

studied these different fish in a laboratory. Cook’s laboratory still stands today(Levinton)).

Over the years explorers pinned 30,000 species on voyages. These voyages disproved of

Forbe’s theory that life an not live or exist below 1,800 feet. In 1882, the government built the

first vessel, a cargo looking ship, to help with oceanographic research. Its name ‘the Albatross’.

After ships came to the equipment, in 1950, Conrad Limbaugh, the first marine biologist to form

a program that used scuba and diving equipment in the course. After that scientist started to do

many experiments with the gear, to see how far down it could go and how much air a person

needs to breathe for a certain amount of time. Sylvia Earle tested out these air tanks. Sylvia leads

four other women, in an expedition called the “Tektite II or Mission 6(Levinton). Sylvia and her

crew lived underwater for two weeks. The first ever female expedition. This opened the door for

women to get involved in Marine biology.

In 1977, scientist discovered the seafloor vents gushing warm, mineral-rich fluids into the

cold ocean water. These became known as the hydrothermal vents, currently located on the

Galapagos Rift. This a historic discovery because it showed scientist that life could live in these

different conditions and thrive(Nowak). In 2012, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence

James Cameron successfully travels to the bottom of the deepest known point in the ocean,

Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench on the Deepsea Challenge expedition. Deepsea

Challenge, a joint scientific project by James Cameron, the National Geographic Society, and

Rolex. This ​is​ the first time someone has traveled to this depth since 1960 when the Trieste made

its descent, and the first time it has ever done a solo mission(Gibbs).

After that, auto-piloted submarines and rovers continue designing each to make

improvements, so it can reach about 13,400 feet down in the midnight zone, a place humans

would die faster than a second after entering. The pressure down in the midnight zone has a huge

effect on humans and could crush a humans skull. The rovers in the past have captured amazing

new species that scientist did not even know existed. Like the vampire squid and the famous

terrifying anglerfish. The rovers have cameras that film the bottom of the ocean and capture the

amazing creatures in the area. The scientist then add them a proper class and even see if

prehistoric fish still exist! Many scientists believe the gulper eel came from as far as the ice age

but of course, a scientist can not really say if it did because no fossil records found because eels

have no bones.

Technology helps a lot with tracking marine life, for example, tagging. Biologists have

tagged marine life since the 1960s. Earlier technologies worked mostly inefficient, but now,

sensors can measure such things as water and body temperature, depth, and ambient sunlight.
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Tiny memory chips store the data. Tagging marine life has had the biggest impacts in the Marine

biology world and one of the most important pieces of technology made. The first electronic tags

started in fish but these tags needed retrieval, and although the retrieval rate does not disappoint

for bluefins, as high as 30 percent--thousands of fish need to hold tags to produce enough data

for a marine biologist to see.

Today, researchers can attach a tag to an animal, and record thousands of data points

every hour, or even every minute! Tagging not only happens in whales and sharks but also in Sea

Lions, dolphins, turtles, fish and many land animals too (lions, rhinos, bees, butterflies,

cockroaches, and monkeys, to name a few). Tagging has provided biologist with invaluable

information on migratory patterns, life histories, movement patterns, social connections, habitat

use, the list goes on! (Gibbs) This technology helps marine biologist research and conserve al the

animals and ecosystems all around the world!

Tagging has become much easier thanks to computers. These computers can help track

the data without a hands-on track. For example marine biologist tag sharks with the acoustic tag,

which can record sharks speed, the temperature and the depth the sharks go to ambush prey.

Tags, mostly used on Great White Sharks. When a marine biologist puts a tag on the dorsal fin of

the shark this acts as Satellite tagging. This tracks the sharks' movements every time the shark

breaks the surface for the water. After this tag loses battery it sends out a signal to the biology to

come to pick it up on the shark. Another type of Satellite tag but its called the pop of tag, because

after the life it pops off the shark and breaks the surface to then send out a signal to the biologist

to come to pick it up. Some more tags include the radio tag which tracks the sharks' health and
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pulse. A short term archival tag which lasts about 24 hours then pops off. This helps with the

temperature and depth control for the shark(Levinton).

Killer whales, dolphins, many fish, and even turtles get tagged as well. All to help get a

population back up and running again. Marine biologist does not just research these amazing

creatures, they rescue and protect them from harmful things people do. From freeing whales and

turtles from fishing nets and helping choking seagals.

Drones today can help researchers protect marine life. Florida's marine scientist use this

technique to try and stop marine life violations. Many say Florida does not have enough marine

life enforcements and this could have a huge impact on the surrounding waters and the marine

life(​Grammes).​ Drone still have some problems that make the government disapprove of this

type of study but this will definitely help biologist put a halt to commercial fishing.

Today, the possibilities for ocean exploration persist nearly infinite. In addition to scuba

diving, rebreathers, fast computers, remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs), deep-sea submersibles,

reinforced diving suits, satellites and other different developing technologies but research

continues to build scientist imaginations and understanding of the ocean. (Fenchel) In spite of

ongoing technological advances, scientist estimate that only 5% of the ocean has stayed

explored(Guttridge). Surprisingly, scientist know more about the moon than the ocean. This

needs to change to ensure the longevity of the life in the seas.

The daily life of a Marine biologist almost 50% on the water and 50% behind a desk

researching. Biologist work through rough weather, dangerous equipment failures and long hours

of diving(Hayden). “Marine biologist beginning to salary about $110,000 up to $500,000 a year

depending on what field someone chooses ( Fenchel)”. Marine biologist usually works for nine
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to ten hours a day but it could no longer due to lab experiments. In total 40 - 50 hours a week.

Working five days a week and get weekends off. A Marine biologist career time could have

about 10 years or more if a graduate loves it. Scientist may move around to different locations,

but keep a nice connection to some previous employers. Grants and contracts require multiple

universities to work on them, so keep good relations with all the people. Marine biology remains

actually quite a small field, mostly everyone would know each other(Dore).

Many marine biologists continue to academics and therefore contribute to knowledge

and teach students as teachers. Many others work in government agencies monitoring pollution

and fish stocks and making policy to manage fisheries and pollution control. Some work in

conservation organizations that seek to protect marine environments and endangered species.

Marine biologist help enforce laws to traffickers and commercial fisherman. Traffickers like to

sell and kill many endangered species like manatees, tuna, turtles, sharks, and whales.

Commercial fisherman do the same but sell them to restaurants so that the restaurants do not get

in trouble for doing it themselves. Sharks butchered for shark fin soup and after that sharks get

thrown back into the water to die. Tuna used for there meat and turtles for oil. Marine biologist

can help put an end to these by teaming up with some government agencies.

Traveling, one of the benefits of Marine biology. Traveling to many different places all

around the world, meet new people and meet new species. The majority of marine biologists

work for state and federal government agencies. These positions typically offer greater job

security and more opportunity for advancement. Many work at private research laboratories or

consulting firms. Others work for aquariums, zoos, and museums, or become faculty members in

academia. Some become high school science teachers. Marine biologists may spend a significant
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amount of time outdoors when conducting research(Nowak). Fieldwork often involves working

on ships to locate, tag, and monitor marine animals and their movements, and to collect seawater

samples.

For a graduate a college could have many different types of marine life fields a graduate

could get into. Including mammals, fish(sharks included), ecosystems and microbiology( Near).

The positions in marine science education (e.g., at aquaria or conservation centers), conservation

advocacy with nonprofit groups like ‘The Nature Conservancy’, scientific illustration, popular

writing about science for online or print media(Levinton). Just a few examples of what Marine

Biology has to hold for a graduate. One of the biggest but hardest ones graduates accomplish

going through, working with sharks or becoming a sharkologist.

Working with sharks, one of the jobs in Marine Biology. Graduates can do so many cool

things with sharks. Swim with them, tracking their migration patterns, study their behaviors and

most importantly help protect them from becoming extinct(Guttridge, Learning Shark

Behaviors). Some people and movies portray sharks completely wrong and persuading people

from thinking this can have difficulties. Sharks attack people, there dangerous or sharks will

always attack humans. Marine biologist gets in the water almost every day with these animals

and never come out with a scratch. Researchers get to work with many different species of

sharks, the possibilities, endless.

Shark snorkeling and similar shark ecotourism activities obtain as a worldwide tourism

phenomenon. From shark cage diving to swimming with rays, to whale shark snorkeling, many

people who unqualified to scuba dive still enjoy interacting and encountering sharks through

tourism( Near). While many of the people guiding these interactions stand qualified as master
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scuba divers, this qualification does not always necessary. (Levinton) For highly skilled scuba

divers, underwater photography and videography, a natural progression. If a student combines

underwater media with a passion for sharks, there some potential to build a career documenting

sharks. Most underwater photographers and videographers who in sharks, work freelance and

look for opportunities to fill(Grose, Swimming with giants).

A graduate could also choose to work as a marine biology veterinarian. Medicine has

evolved to heal animals underwater and not rub off! While most vets focus on working with

domesticated animals, a small section of vets specializes in working with marine life(Levinton).

Aquariums and researchers all require the services of vets for various shark projects or health

maintenance. For instance, during the Ocearch, A Shark wranglers series had a specialized vet on

each expedition involving catching and tagging great white sharks. The vets on the expedition

conducted complicated surgeries for the researcher and also monitored the overall health of

sharks while others had them on cradles out of the water(Grose, Swimming with Giants).

Marine biologists may study anything from the largest whale down to tiny plankton,

microbes, and even the seawater itself(Guttridge). The sea and its denizens, face the challenges

of coexisting with commercial shipping, recreational boating, plastics, chemicals, and other

issues associated with human activities. Marine biologists study how these activities affect

marine life, and suggest alternatives to minimize or prevent them. All Americans have to do to

really help marine biologist could just throw away trash in the right bin and not litter. Marine

biologist just takes that to the next level.

Work Cited

Daly, Rachel. “Email Interview: Melissa Dore.” 7 Nov, 2018

Grammes, Daniel. “Protecting Florida's Marine Life with Drones .” ​Ebscohost,​ St. Thomas Law

Review, 2018, Spring

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861&db=a9h&AN=130963049&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Gibbs, Nancy. “‘Firsts Women Who Are Changing the World. (Cover Story).” Ebscohost,

Time, Vol. 190, No, 11 Sept. 2017,

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861&db=a9h&AN=125037078&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Grose, Thomas K. “SWIMMING WITH GIANTS. (Cover Story).” U.S. News & World Report,

vol. 137, no. 5, Aug. 2004, pp. 64–66. EBSCOhost,

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Guttridge, Tristan L., et al. “The Role of Learning in Shark Behaviour.” Fish & Fisheries, vol.

10, no. 4, Dec. 2009, pp. 450–469. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1467-2979.2009.00339.x.

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Hayden, Thomas. “THE BLUE PLANET. (Cover Story).” U.S. News & World Report,

vol. 137, no. 5, Aug. 2004, pp. 46–55. EBSCOhost,

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Levinton Jeffrey “Marine Biology: International Journal on Life in Oceans and Coastal Waters”

Switzerland, ISSN, Springer Nature, 1995. (Book)

Near, Robert. “So You Want to Be a Marine Biologist .” Ebscohost, Macleans , Nov. 2009,

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Nowak, Rachel. “This Shark Is Telling You Something.” Ebscohost, New Scientist , 8 Oct.

2018,

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“Spotlight on Marine Biology.” Biologist, vol. 59, no. 3, Aug. 2012, p. 34.

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