Related Careers

Marine biology is the study of plant and animal life within saltwater ecosystems. Marine biology is the largest subset of oceanography, encompassing a vast array of organisms. From microscopic plankton, to great blue whales, marine biology studies diverse life forms, determining their relationships relative to one another and the environment in which they live.

Marine biology-related fields include oceanography, marine mammal research and aquaculture. Oceanography includes the biological, geological, physical and chemical aspects of marine systems plus ocean engineering. There are many different employment options as a marine biologist. Related fields provide ample opportunities for specialized professionals.

Oceanography

Oceanography is also known as oceanology or marine science. Several fields of oceanography that are all related include:

• Biological oceanography. Also known as marine biology, this is the study of the oceans plants, microbes and animals. It concerns itself with the ecological interactions of the biota, or living world.
• Chemical oceanography. Marine chemistry or geochemistry is the study of the chemistry of the ocean, including chemical interactions with the atmosphere. Researchers in this field study the effect of pollutants and also search for natural products that can be exploited.
• Geological oceanography. Also known as marine geology, this is the study of the formations, history and composition of geological features under the ocean. These features tend to be as interesting as, and perhaps even more active than, those on land.
• Ocean engineering. Ocean engineering concerns itself with developing and building structures such as oil platforms, ships and harbors. These types of projects involve more than their terrestrial counterparts since factors like ocean currents and tides must be taken into account.
• Physical oceanography. Researchers in this area see the ocean from a global perspective. They see all the oceans collectively as one huge system and study it as a whole, including its interactions with the atmosphere. Also known as marine physics, it is the study of the physical structure of the ocean including:
  1. currents temperature
  2. internal waves
  3. mixing
  4. salinity structure
  5. tides
  6. waves.

Marine Mammal Research

Marine mammal researchers study marine mammals behavioral ecology, social systems and ecosystems. Marine mammal research encompasses a wide variety of disciplines within biology, including:

• anatomy
• behavior
• conservation
• ecology
• parasitology
• physiology
• taxonomy
• toxicology.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture, or aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms, including:

• kelp/seaweeds and algae, also known as algaculture
• finfish
• shellfish
• shrimp.

Aquaculture differs from commercial fishing because the cultivation takes place under relatively controlled conditions. It has increased in importance since the demand for these organisms exceeds the supply from commercial fishermen. The growing of cultivated pearls also falls under this category.

Jobs in Marine Biology and Related Fields

Marine biology is a competitive field, but there are a large number of opportunities for highly specialized professionals. Most marine biologists choose to specialize in a very narrow niche within the field.

Marine Biotechnology

One of the fastest growing fields is marine biotechnology. With help from marine biotechnicians, researchers in the biomedical field have found ways to manufacture new drugs using marine organisms. Researchers in marine biotechnology also work to genetically modify organisms in aquaculture farms, making them tenderer, larger and sweeter. This increases their economic value.

Molecular Biology

Molecular biology is a field closely related to marine biology. For example, molecular biologists may test for the presence of microscopic organisms in a water sample or determine the source of a pollutant.

Toxicology and Environmental Biology

Toxicology and environmental biology are other growing areas within the field of marine biology. Determining water purity and the presence of contaminants in our water systems is increasingly important work in our modern world.

Other Marine Biology-Related Opportunities and Research Projects

These days, available opportunities within the field of marine biology are vast. Other potential areas of specialization include:

• coastal geology
• ocean drilling
• ocean mining, oil and gas exploration
• seismology.

Physical oceanographers have an almost unlimited job potential. Positions in physical oceanography far outnumber the number of physical oceanographers. Physical oceanography jobs study the physical movement of the water and its influence on surrounding land masses. They also observe the circulation of the water and its effects on the presence of a certain species of fish or pollutants in the area.