Optical limnologists and oceanographers are interested in the factors that affect the transmission of light through the water. Biologists study living things and their interaction with each other and the environment. Some study single species, others may examine how two or more species interact, and still others seek to understand the workings of an entire ecosystem. Many of these scientists work at the boundaries of these disciplines. Chemists may study the effect of compounds released by organisms on, for example, trace metal chemistry or the transport and distribution of chemicals due to water mass movement.
Aquatic science is interdisciplinary.
While most aquatic scientists work primarily in one area, they draw on information from all fields. For this reason, aquatic scientists often work together in groups. For example, physical and biological oceanographers collaborate to understand the effect of physical processes on organisms, while chemists and biologists work together to understand the ways in which the chemical constituents of water bodies interact with plants, animals, and microorganisms such as bacteria. Today, many aquatic scientists are conducting studies related to global change. As the largest reservoir for carbon dioxide on the planet, oceans play a key role in the global carbon cycle and moderate the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.