marine biology quiz questions

Sea water is

A weak base

At what specific depth does the rate of photosynthesis equal the rate of respiration?

Compensation Depth

A phytoplankton cell can stay alive below its compensation depth as long as it does not exceeds its...

Critical depth

In relation to ice cap, which property of water is this polar bear relying on?

Density

The loss of which of the following organisms is involved in coral bleaching:

Dinoflagellates

An small earthquake sets off a tremor that creates waves moving across the Pacific ocean. Which scenario best describes how the wave moves?

Energy is transferred out and away from the origin with little transport of water molecules

True or False: Anaerobic cell respiration is more efficient than aerobic cell respiration

False

True or False: Nutrients from seawater are generally the key limiting resource in the rocky intertidal zone.

False

True or False: Rocky intertidal communities are characterized by very short and relatively simple trophic relationships.

False

Ocean acidification is likely to adversely affect those organisms that create calcium carbonate shells. Therefore, diatoms are at risk. True or False?

False, because diatom frustules are composed of silicon dioxide

The process of subduction does which of the following?

Forms deep sea trenches

What is another name for the deepest part of the ocean?

Hadal zone

Chlorophyll a is used as a measure of standing crop of phytoplankton because:

It is a direct measure of the photosynthetic activity in the total biomass.

Euryhalinity is the capability of some organisms to tolerate wide range of salinities. In which of the following aquatic environments are we LEAST likely to find a euryhaline fish?

Lake

Plate tectonics is the movement of Earth's rigid plates, also known as the

Lithosphere

Excess of which of the following nutrients may trigger an eutrophication event in marine environments?

Nitrate and phosphate

what is a key feature of the theory of evolution

Offspring with the most favorable traits are the most likely to survive and pass on their genes

In relation to the wind, surface currents theoretically flow:

Perpendicular due to Ekman transport

Which of the following factors has the LEAST effect on the vertical distribution of intertidal organisms within the intertidal zone?

Photoperiod

are authotrophic organisms with the ability to carry on photosynthesis and to make food for themselves

Primary producers

In temperate latitudes (e.g. Seattle), when is the strongest thermocline generally observed?

Summer

Why might tide pools at the highest tide levels may be inhabited only by bacterial films?

The water in the pools can evaporate, making the pools hypersaline and anoxic

As a result of the Coriolis Effect, a missile fired northward from the equator will seem to be deflected:

Toward the East

As a result of the Coriolis Effect, a missile fired southward from the equator will seem to be deflected:

Toward the East

What are the limiting factors that most influence phytoplankton distribution?

light and nutrients

Surface circulation in the ocean is primarily driven by _________________ and deep circulation is primarily driven by ________________.

wind; density

Even in the clearest tropical waters, almost all the red light is absorbed in the upper

11 m

Photosynthesizers can maximize their ability to harvest solar energy by using chlorophyll in addition to other pigments because:

Accessory pigments can absorb wavelengths other than those absorbed by cholorophyll thereby expanding the range of light energy harnessed by these autotrophs and ultimately transferred to chlorophyll for photosynthesis.

Which of the following describes the process of photosynthesis?

Carbon dioxide and water are used to produce glucose.

This layer of the Earth is solid and made primarily made of Ni and Fe:

Inner core

What drives tectonic plate movement?

The Earth's magnetic core

Which of the following systems buffers seawater pH

carbonic acid - carbonate - bicarbonate