Marine Science Final

A certain population of fish is capable of emitting electrical currents when threatened. Which of the following terms best describes this capability?

adaptation

If algae produce 55 000 joules of energy, which pathway would result in a top predator receiving 55 joules of energy?

algae → zooplankton → pufferfish → barracuda

It is thought that whales strand themselves because they

are disoriented due to disease or infection

The following marine mammal is classified as a

baleen whale.

A tentative conclusion that can be drawn from this experiment is that

bradycardia probably does occur in humans

Hurricane, cyclone, and typhoon formations in the tropical oceanic areas help maintain Earth's heat balance during the summer and fall seasons. How do these tropical storms accomplish this task of transferring heat energy?

by moving heat energy from the warm surface waters of the ocean and transferring it into the atmosphere above the ocean's surface

Which of the following is part of the diving response?

a slowing of the heart rate

Which natural selection condition example can be classified as a struggle to survive?

A baby sea turtle crawling towards the ocean after hatching.

Which of the following examples of natural selection conditions can be classified as inherited variation?

A family of fish has a mutation that protects then against a harmful bacteria.

How is the whale adapted for breathing in the ocean?

Air enters and exits through the blowhole.

If a student has the card shown above, what kingdom is written on the back of the card?

Animalia

What conclusions can be drawn from the information and the data provided?

Area 1 has the least number of Krill due to low light intensity. Therefore, this data can represent a winter season. Hump back whales can be found in the southern latitudes.

What would occur if all the snapper suddenly disappeared from this ecosystem?

Blenny would increase due to the loss of a predator.

What characteristics do the two mollusks shown here have in common?

Both are soft-bodied animals.

Which is not a role that oceans play in the carbon cycle?

Carbon dioxide is released from deep sea sediments.

Marine ecosystems are vital parts of the carbon cycle. Which correctly traces the path of a carbon atom involving marine systems?

Carbon dioxide is taken in by phytoplankton during photosynthesis and converted to sugar. A small fish consumes the phytoplankton and uses the sugar during cellular respiration. Carbon dioxide is released back into the water as a by-product of cellular respiration.

An environmental group claimed that an oil company drilling very close to coral could damage the coral habitat. Which step should be taken to determine whether the drilling is affecting the coral?

Compare coral areas near the drilling site to coral away from the drilling site.

How do currents such as the Gulf Stream affect regional climates?

Currents distribute heat from the equator to higher latitudes.

When nurse sharks find that brightly colored red crabs move more slowly and are easier to catch than other crabs, they will change their behaviors to catch these brightly colored crabs more often. What behavioral change would you expect to see in the brightly colored red crabs over time?

Faster bright red crabs will survive longer, will reproduce more, and will have more offspring. Over time, the bright red crabs will become faster.

Surface currents redistribute heat from the equator towards the poles. Why are the climate and waters around the Galapagos much cooler than would be expected, given their proximity to the equator?

Heat distribution is uneven and upwelling brings cold water to the surface around the Galapagos.

Which of the following statements is an appropriate research question for this data table?

How do environmental parameters affect marine life?

Students in a marine science class want to test the effects of temperature on the reproduction of sea animals. Students learn that sea urchin are often used as an indicator species in environmental studies and so decide to use sea urchin in this investigation. Sea urchin prefer 26.6 degree Celsius (C) water, feed on a variety of algae, and need space in a tank due to their mobility. Students carefully introduce and place sea urchin into their new environments. Which experimental design diagram represents an appropriate experiment?

Independent variable: temperature Dependent variable: number of new sea urchin Constants: sea urchin, algae diet

San Diego, CA has a semi arid climate characterized by mild sunny weather year round. The California Current is a Pacific Ocean current that moves southward along the western coast of North America. Which of these statements best explains how the California Current moderates the climate of San Diego?

It carries cool polar water resulting in cooler temperatures.

Which of these statements best describes the function of models in science?

Models provide a testable interpretation of a complex system.

Tiger shrimp, native to Indo-Pacific, Asian, and Australian waters, has recently been found in the Gulf of Mexico. Which of the following describes the most likely impact of this non-native species on the ecosystem?

Native shrimp species will lose food resources due to competition with this non-native species.

Our oceans play a large role in climate change. Which is a specific role played by the oceans in regards to climate?

Oceans absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change.

Based on these characteristics, to which kingdom would this organism belong?

Protista

It has long been thought that solar energy was the ultimate source of all energy on Earth. What must have occured in the scientific community when scientists discovered the existence of ecosystems near ocean hydrothermal vents?

Scientists conducted further research and eventually modified the theory to include this source of chemical energy.

Water's high heat capacity directly affects ocean currents. How does the heat capacity of water connect to the ocean currents?

Since water can store large amounts of energy in the form of heat, the high energy surface water flows towards the cold water, which begins the current process.

Whales communicate to each other using sound waves at various frequencies. It has been shown that these waves can travel faster and longer distances in water than in air. Why do sound waves behave differently in these two mediums?

Sound waves travel across the particles of matter; since water molecules are closer together, the wave can travel further.

Which is an accurate statement regarding this experiment?

The biology of the ribbed mussel was used as a model for understanding human biology

Which statement explains why this claim could be a valid alternative scientific explanation to the decreasing amount of sea ice?

The claim has been peer-reviewed and accepted.

A student hypothesized that a human underwater would show a similar diving reflex (bradycardia—the slowing of the heart rate) to that of a whale or a seal. She tested her hypothesis by recording her pulse rate at different depths in a swimming pool of uniform temperature and light intensity. The results of her experiment are shown in the following graph. Based on the data in the graph, which statement is most correct?

The hypothesis is supported by the data.

Humans continue to burn large amounts of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Scientific data indicates that worldwide, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased from about 290 parts-per-million (ppm) in 1850 to 390 ppm in 2013. The ppm figure would be different if it were not for the ocean absorbing 30% - 50% of the released carbon dioxide. What effect did the ocean have in relationship to global temperatures and climate change during this time period?

The oceans have decreased the rate of global temperature increase by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In 1976, scientists in the submersible Alvin discovered a rich community of strange and specialized organisms living together near hydrothermal vents. Despite living well below the the photic zone, this hydrothermal vent community included diverse organisms such a clams, giant tubeworms, and crustaceans. How can life exist in such abundance at hydrothermal vents?

The primary producers are chemosynthetic organisms that use dissolved chemicals as an energy source. This forms the basis of a complex food chain.

Shark fishing has become a popular sport among fishermen. Which of the following accurately describes a possible impact of this new sport on marine biodiversity?

The reduction of shark populations could cause their normal prey to overpopulate which in turn will dramatically reduce populations below them in the food chain.

Both predation and parasitism are described as benefitting one organism while harming another. Scientists have observed that sea lampreys use their suction disk mouths to attach to a fish, puncture the skin, and drain the fish's body fluids. The fish may eventually die of blood loss. Which argument most accurately classifies this relationship?

This relationship is parasitism because the lamprey does not consume the entire fish, it merely creates wounds that may eventually lead to death.

Which statement represents a valid conclusion that can be drawn from this experiment?

Tobacco extract does have an effect on the level of ciliary activity in ribbed mussels.

Which property of light waves explains why the ocean normally appears blue in color?

Water and other particles in the ocean absorb red light first and reflect blue light.

Water is a special molecule that has many properties that are vital to living things. What is one of those properties and a reason it is vital to living things of marine ecosystems?

Water is able to dissolve many substances, which is vital to organisms that live in the water and get their nutrients from the water.

Which natural selection condition example can be classified as inherited variation?

a shark having a mutation that makes it "extra" immune to most disease

The class of mollusks that contains many species without shells is

cephalopods

Hydrothermal vents are typically found along cracks in the ocean floor. These vents support a diverse range of organisms, from chemosynthetic bacteria to four-meter-long tube worms. The bacteria use hydrogen sulfide generated from the vents to create organic molecules. The microorganisms form the base of the hydrothermal vent food chain. Which factor plays a key role in the success of the hydrothermal vent community?

chemistry

What could Triston change in his experiment to improve his grade?

collect more data by using a larger population and having multiple trials

A small crab will make its home inside a mussel, obtaining food and shelter, while the mussel simply tolerates the situation. In contrast, a different crab falls victim to an intruder who slowly extracts nutrients from its body by spreading a fungus-like substance throughout its extremities. Which two symbiotic relationships are described in the examples?

commensalism and parasitism

Which example can be classified as a hazard of mercury?

concentration increases up the aquatic food chain

Global warming has been attributed to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Absorption of this excess carbon dioxide by the ocean can result in increased acidity of the water. Which of the following describes a likely impact of this increased acidity on biodiversity in the ocean?

decreased biodiversity due to coral reef bleaching

A student hypothesized that a human underwater would show a similar diving reflex (bradycardia—the slowing of the heart rate) to that of a whale or a seal. She tested her hypothesis by recording her pulse rate at different depths in a swimming pool of uniform temperature and light intensity. The results of her experiment are shown in the following graph. The results of the experiment show that, as depth increases, the human pulse rate

decreases

Oceans heat up and release water into the atmosphere as a gas. This helps moderate temperatures. Which of the following is occurring?

evaporation

The ice layers which form on top of Arctic waters protect aquatic life by insulating the water beneath from the extreme cold temperatures. Which property of water contributes to the formation of this ice barrier?

expansion when frozen

Evidence of the whale's terrestrial ancestors is clearly seen in the internal structure of its

forelimbs

Recently, locations considered temperate have noticed an uptick in mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile Virus, Malaria, and Dengue fever. Which of the following best explains why these areas are experiencing an invasion of mosquitos carrying deadly pathogens?

global warming

Which of the following is not a characteristic of all marine mammals?

having a blowhole

Which term correctly describes the fish?

herbivore

Which of the following is a filter-feeding marine mammal?

humpback whale

An organism that is a scavenger with little pigmentation, bioluminescence, and a large mouth most likely resides in which part of the ocean?

in the deep ocean with no light

How does the introduction of an invasive species result in a loss of biodiversity?

invasive species displace native species

Which natural selection condition example can be classified as inherited variation?

kelp developing a mutation that helps it survive against adverse diseases

In the panhandle of Florida, the temperature of the coastal areas is typically a few degrees milder than the temperature of the inland areas. Which contribute(s) to the climate of the coastal areas?

ll and lll

The structure in a clam that secretes the shell is the

mantle

In the marine environment, natural selection takes advantage of natural variations in the traits of organisms within a population of clams. The major source of this variation among clam populations is due to which of the following events?

mutations in the genetic code which has allowed for successful reproduction rates

In the late 19th century, scientists proposed various explanations for the observation that the continental coastlines fit together like jigsaw puzzle pieces. One theory was that the continents had once fully covered Earth's crust, but that Earth had then expanded to form the oceans. Later, that theory was rejected and replaced by the theory of plate tectonics due to new evidence. What does the passage demonstrate about how new evidence changes science over time?

new evidence leads to change in scientific knowledge which can then lead to new scientific theories

A snail closes its shell opening with a pad of tissue called the

operculum

Which of the following is a bivalve mollusk?

oyster

Which best describes the relationship between Icthyophthirius multifiliius and fish?

parasitism

Alex is learning how life in the aquatic ecosystems is distributed. She is studying about the different types of organisms that live in different ocean zones. To understand these concepts better, she draws a picture for herself to study. Which zone would she show as containing autotrophic producers?

photic zone

Which of the following activities is the most likely cause of algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico?

presence of nutrients caused by runoff from farmland

Which characteristic would be found in the aquatic life that thrives in zone 1?

reliance primarily on taste and smell to find food

Each year, oil enters the marine environment in several ways due to human interference. Which method causes the most damage to the marine environment?

runoff from city streets and waste oil

Which of the following situations would not have a negative impact on coral reefs?

slight variations in salinity

The results of this experiment show that ciliary activity

stops in the experimental group after the fourth day

Diatoms, like most phytoplankton, are much more abundant in the photic zone than in the aphotic zone. Which two factors found in the photic zone are the two most essential factors for phytoplanton growth?

sunlight and carbon dioxide

Based on the data, one researcher concludes that a new predator was introduced into the area during this time period. Which of the following is a likely alternate explanation for the change in the mullet population?

the amount of aquatic plants in the area decreased

What do the arrows in this food chain indicate?

the flow of energy

Juan lives near a local pier on a canal that connects with the Gulf of Mexico. He notices that large numbers of jellyfish are near the pier in the late afternoon, but in the morning the jellyfish are gone. Juan questions how the number of jellyfish changes throughout the day. He sets up a chart to record the number of jellyfish at different times throughout the day. What is the dependent (outcome) variable in Juan's experiment?

the number of jellyfish counted at each time interval

What is the independent variable in Carter's experiment?

type of food

The mollusk shown here would be

univalve

Joe is learning how oceanic processes affect aquatic organisms. He decides to research about life and nutrition in the ocean. Which example would be categorized as a process that brings nutrients to the surface of the ocean?

upwelling

The nitrogen cycle is important to marine oganisms. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) must be converted to usable forms for use by aglae, phytoplankton, seaweeds, and many other marine plants. Some nitrogen is "fixed" by bacteria, but a majority of nitrogen is "recycled" as dead plants and animals drift to the ocean bottom and decay. Which ocean circulation brings usable nitrogen compounds to the surface where they are available for marine producers?

upwellings

What is the function of the structures on top of its head?

vision

Which phrase best describes what happens to wave height and wavelength as a wave nears the coastline?

wave height increases and wavelength decreases