Marine biology is a branch of science that deals with the study of aquatic life and underwater environments. You will be assigned both inland and offshore, depending on the topic. You may also find that other branches and related fields of marine biology can be equally or more interesting. Find out more about the details and features then decide which one will best suit your personal interests and needs. Here are some more tips.
About Marine Biology
The field of marine biology involves the study of aquatic organisms, the behavior and other interactions with the environment. It is considered one of the most diverse and interesting fields in oceanography. If you want to understand marine organisms and their different behaviors fully, you have to get a basic understanding of other disciplines and aspects of oceanography, like geological oceanography, chemical oceanography and physical oceanography. Biological oceanographers and marine biologists get to study these related fields during their careers to get a wider perspective during research.
Since there are several topics, marine researchers choose a specific interest and focus on it. Specializations can be founded on a specific organism, species, ecosystem or behavior technique. Marine biologists can select to review a certain species of fish or all kinds of fish that live in a given region.
Other Specializations
Marine biotechnology is a fast-emerging field that provides huge opportunities for marine biologists. The research shows a very wide array of opportunities and applications. A focus aspect involves the biomedical field, wherein scientists improve and test drugs, many that come from marine organisms. One type of an application of biotechnology research can be viewed in defense or industry, wherein researchers create non-toxic coatings that limit the build-up of organisms like zebra mussels and barnacles.
Molecular biology is another related aspect of specialization. Researchers will apply molecular techniques and approaches to different environments, in the deep sea and coastal ponds. They also apply these to different organisms, animals, plants and microscopic bacteria. Molecular biology can be used to identify the presence of a certain organism in a water sample via the use of molecular probes. When the organism is the same to other organisms or is microscopic, the data can be highly helpful.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is defined as the farming of shellfish, seaweeds and finfish. It is another field that is supported by molecular approaches and marine biotechnology. Aquaculture is quickly getting more attention since people are now looking for more fish and shellfish. Technological developments have also been made, making the approach more economically feasible. Economic value is increased as professionals discovered the way to extend the harvest and market season.
More Advances
Marine researchers are now looking for ways to provide drugs to affected populations of fishes raised in farms. The disease can be very detrimental for harvesting. Technology has allowed out fish tissue layers to be more permeable, thereby making the fish more receptive to antibiotic drugs and vaccines released into the water. As a result, healthier fishes can be raised in farms to provide for various populations.
