OCS 2005 final exam
B. Bacteria begins to grow. A. A bristle worm bed forms. C. Calcium carbonate rock begins to form and tubeworms colonize the site. D. Corals colonize the site.
55. The following events describe parts of the succession of cold seeps. Sort the events in time, from early- to late-succession. A. A bristle worm bed forms. B. Bacteria begins to grow. C. Calcium carbonate rock begins to form and tubeworms colonize the site. D. Corals colonize the site.
true
66. True or False: Hurricane winds move counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
a. North Pacific Gyre.
76. The highest concentration of plastic is found in the: a. North Pacific Gyre. b. North Atlantic Gyre. c. South Atlantic Gyre. d. Indian Ocean Gyre.
c. Draining the land for farming.
1. Which of the following is NOT a major cause of Louisiana's marsh loss? a. Reduced sediment flow from the Mississippi River. b. Sea level rise. c. Draining the land for farming. d. The construction of oil and gas pipelines.
c. So much water will be diverted that the Mississippi River may run dry, leaving major cities without an important source of fresh water.
10. Which of the following is NOT a potential negative consequence of the Mississippi River sediment diversions? a. Many oyster culture areas will become unfavorable to oyster growth, causing great concern for the Gulf oyster industry. b. They will change salinities in the middle of the estuary, altering habitat availability for many species. c. So much water will be diverted that the Mississippi River may run dry, leaving major cities without an important source of fresh water. d. Sediment diversion construction, operation, and maintenance is very expensive, and it is a long-term commitment.
A - warming B - cooling C - warming D - warming
100. As the Gulf Stream slows, we can expect to see drastic consequences to the climate in different regions of the North Atlantic Ocean. Match the most likely consequence to each region in the image below. Options: Warming, cooling
true
101. True or False: Most models agree that climate change is likely to increase the average intensity of hurricanes in the Atlantic.
c. decreases
102. When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, the amount of carbonate available for shellbuilding animals: a. increases b. stays the same c. decreases d. oscillates
d. All of these answers are possible
103. By 2100, shell-building animals in coastal Washington may: a. have difficulty growing their shells b. have difficulty keeping their shells from eroding c. not be able to survive d. All of these answers are possible
c. Top predators like barracuda.
89. If you are on vacation in Hawaii and want to avoid contracting ciguatera, what should you avoid eating? a. Shellfish. b. Seaweed salad. c. Top predators like barracuda. d. Bottom feeders like catfish.
c. Ocean acidification.
90. Which of the following is NOT a reason given for the increase in HAB occurrence between 1972 and "present"? a. Nutrient pollution. b. Better detection methods and more observers. c. Ocean acidification. d. Natural dispersal events that introduce algal cells or cysts to new areas
b. As the ocean warms less oxygen dissolves in the water. d. Stratification is enhanced as the ocean surface warms.
91. Which of the following are causes of deoxygenation and the expansion of oxygen minimum zones? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. Phytoplankton are dying off and not around to produce oxygen. b. As the ocean warms less oxygen dissolves in the water. c. Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has replaced the oxygen in the ocean. d. Stratification is enhanced as the ocean surface warms.
c. An open ocean zone occurring in the middle of the water column where hypoxia occurs.
92. What is an ocean minimum zone? a. When water masses with different properties form pycnoclines that act as barriers to water mixing. b. A sea floor zone of low dissolved oxygen that forms when the supply of nutrients, primarily nitrates, fuels coastal eutrophication. c. An open ocean zone occurring in the middle of the water column where hypoxia occurs. d. A process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface.
a. 1-2
93. What level of hypoxia is typically leads to avoidance by fishes? a. 1-2 b. 3-4 c. 6-7 d. 9-10
a. Respiration rates increase. c. Warm water holds less oxygen. d. Stratification increases.
94. Jubilee events happen during the heat of the summer. The below graph shows the oxygen levels in the deep portions of Mobile Bay in August 2011, when oxygen levels dipped into the danger zone. Why does bottom dissolved oxygen decline in the warmest months? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. Respiration rates increase. b. Oxygen evaporates in warm conditions. c. Warm water holds less oxygen. d. Stratification increases.
C. Warm summer temperatures stratify the water and increase respiration to create a low oxygen zone in deep water. B. Winds blowing from the east push shallow water offshore. A. Low oxygen water from deep areas upwells into shallow areas. D. Marine animals avoiding hypoxic water follow the tidal currents which converge along the northeastern shore of Mobile Bay
95. The Jubilee phenomenon is brought about by the convergence of a number of events. Sort these events in time, as they would typically happen in Mobile Bay to create a jubilee. A. Low oxygen water from deep areas upwells into shallow areas. B. Winds blowing from the east push shallow water offshore. C. Warm summer temperatures stratify the water and increase respiration to create a low oxygen zone in deep water. D. Marine animals avoiding hypoxic water follow the tidal currents which converge along the northeastern shore of Mobile Bay
a. Enhanced mixing because of hurricane Hanna.
96. Why was the 2020 hypoxic zone smaller than expected? a. Enhanced mixing because of hurricane Hanna. b. Reduction of nutrients in the Mississippi River watershed. c. A drought that year broke up the coastal stratification. d. It shifted towards the west, and the hypoxia cruise missed most of it.
a. Patterns of estuarine salinity may change dramatically due to changes in the timing and magnitude of precipitation and snowmelt. b. Fresh areas dominated by heavy rains are expected to become fresher d. Salty, dry regions with a high amount of evaporation are expected to become saltier.
97. Which of the following are likely to occur in relation to future ocean salinity conditions? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. Patterns of estuarine salinity may change dramatically due to changes in the timing and magnitude of precipitation and snowmelt. b. Fresh areas dominated by heavy rains are expected to become fresher. c. Fresh areas dominated by heavy rains are expected to become warmer, drier, and saltier. d. Salty, dry regions with a high amount of evaporation are expected to become saltier.
true
98. True or False: Changes in ocean temperature will lead to species range shifts, resulting in completely novel combinations of species in some areas and regional extinction in other areas.
a. Since phytoplankton bloom timing has remained relatively constant, the larvae may experience a temporal mismatch with their prey.
99. Marine organisms spawn according to temperature triggers, meaning that with warming they are spawning earlier and earlier. Which of the following is a consequence of earlier seasonal spawning for marine larvae? a. Since phytoplankton bloom timing has remained relatively constant, the larvae may experience a temporal mismatch with their prey. b. Larvae may be exposed to enhanced UV radiation in the early spring, causing severe mutations. c. Larvae spawned earlier in the year may experience a phenomenon known as coastal squeeze. d. Larvae hatched early in the spring may not be able to travel as far due to seasonal slowing of ocean currents due to melting ice caps.
c. Soil is created in place while sediment is transported and deposited in a different location than it formed.
11. What is the difference between soil and sediment? a. Soil is on land, and sediment is under water. b. Soil is associated with agriculture while sediment is not. c. Soil is created in place while sediment is transported and deposited in a different location than it formed. d. There is no difference, soil and sediment are synonymous terms.
a. Each grain of sand is millions of years old, and can trace its origin to fossilized marine life and mountain rocks.
12. Rachel Carson said "Each grain on a beach is the result of processes that go back to the shadowy beginnings of life, or of the earth itself." What did she mean by this? a. Each grain of sand is millions of years old, and can trace its origin to fossilized marine life and mountain rocks. b. Deposits of sand grains formed at the same time the earth's crust formed, in a mysterious and poorly understood process. c. Most sand is formed at hydrothermal vents, which is the environment where many scientists think life on Earth got its start. d. All grains of sand predate life on Earth, and sand was a prerequisite for life to form on this planet.
b. Chemical weapons testing site. c. Cattle ranch.
13. In the book by Jack Davis, he identifies some unique uses that humans had for Gulf barrier islands. Which of the following were some of these uses? More than one answer may be correct, choose all of the correct answers. a. Leper colony. b. Chemical weapons testing site. c. Cattle ranch. d. High-security prison.
d. It is the final result of Appalachian Mountain rock weathering that has left behind pure white quartz crystal.
14. Why is Alabama and Florida panhandle Gulf Coast sand so soft and white? a. It is composed largely of sea salt because the Gulf Coast is an evaporative basin and has many salt domes. b. It is composed of the sulfate mineral gypsum which accumulates in the coastal Gulf because marshes contain a lot of sulfur. c. It has formed from the accumulation of fossilized shell material from oysters in the coastal zone. d. It is the final result of Appalachian Mountain rock weathering that has left behind pure white quartz crystal.
b. Sand harvesting removed layers essential for groundwater filtration in coastal Australia leading to poor drinking water supply.
15. Which of the following is NOT an example of a consequence resulting from the demand for sand? a. In India sand mafias have injured and killed dozens of people as a result of the illegal sand trade. b. Sand harvesting removed layers essential for groundwater filtration in coastal Australia leading to poor drinking water supply. c. Sand mining caused a bridge to collapse in Taiwan and Portugal. d. River sand mining is contributing to the disappearance of Vietnam's Mekong River Delta.
A. Waves move sand onto the beach. B. Sand dries out during low tide. D. Wind pushes sand up-hill in a jumping motion. C. Once particles fall onto the side of the dune away from the wind, they stay there.
16. The following events describe parts of the formation of a sand dune. Sort the events in time. A. Waves move sand onto the beach. B. Sand dries out during low tide. C. Once particles fall onto the side of the dune away from the wind, they stay there. D. Wind pushes sand up-hill in a jumping motion.
false
17. True or False: Most of the sand we see today was originally broken down from the continental plates shortly after the formation of the Earth's crust.
b. Many storms and rains to move wet sand around the beach.
18. Which of the following is NOT a component of beach self-repair? a. Sea wind to blow the sand inland. b. Many storms and rains to move wet sand around the beach. c. Beach sand being able to dry in the sunshine. d. Sand storage in the dunes.
a. The sand is commonly gone in less than four years.
19. Which of the following is true of beach replenishment? a. The sand is commonly gone in less than four years. b. It is a cheap fix to beach erosion. c. It is a natural process that will always keep up with beach erosion. d. It involves the construction of break walls to keep the beach sand in place.
false
2. True or False: Bioengineered oyster reefs are seeded with oysters that have been genetically engineered to handle a warming climate
true
20. True or False: The building of one groin on the beach often leads to many other groins being built, because a groin will cause sand to erode from one side of the structure.
d. Intertidal areas were filled in with dredged sediment to make more coastal property.
21. In the 1953 book "Dead Low Tide", the main character reflects that "Florida is growing, not in the normal fashion of other places, with more houses going up on existing land, but the land itself is growing." What is meant by this phrase? a. The Florida coast has many deltas that are constantly building new land. b. The sea level is actually receding in south Florida allowing coastal settlements to expand seaward. c. Barrier islands off the coast of Florida moved towards land and eventually combined with the shoreline to form a new expanse of beach. d. Intertidal areas were filled in with dredged sediment to make more coastal property.
b. Dredging is used to sample deep-sea rocks to understand the movement of the earth's crust.
22. Which of the following is NOT a way dredging is used in marine environments? a. Dredging is used to open up waterways that have experienced sedimentation. b. Dredging is used to sample deep-sea rocks to understand the movement of the earth's crust. c. Dredging is performed to reduce the exposure to contaminants. d. Sand is collected from an offshore location by a dredge and is piped onto the beach for beach replenishment projects.
false
23. True or False: The process of "dredge and fill" reduces the environmental consequences of dredging by filling in the dredge pit with similar sediments after the dredging is complete.
c. Sand dredging is one weapon China is using against Taiwan in a campaign of so-called gray-zone warfare, which entails using irregular tactics to exhaust a foe without actually resorting to open combat.
24. How is sand dredging being used as an act of aggression in the conflict between China and Taiwan? a. China is removing sand from Taiwan's coastline, resulting in extensive erosion and forcing Taiwanese people to migrate inland. b. China is using sand dredges as cannons, scooping up sand and shooting it on shore in Taiwan to bury coastal developments. c. Sand dredging is one weapon China is using against Taiwan in a campaign of so-called gray-zone warfare, which entails using irregular tactics to exhaust a foe without actually resorting to open combat. d. All of these answers are correct
Shoreline armoring
25. A. The practice of using physical structures to protect shorelines from coastal erosion.
Breakwater
25. B. A barrier built offshore to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.
Seawall (bulkhead)
25. C. Vertical or near vertical shore-parallel structures designed to prevent upland erosion and storm surge flooding.
Riprap
25. D. Human-placed rock or other material used to protect shoreline structures against erosion. Options: riprap, seawall (bulkhead), breakwater, shoreline armoring.
c. It must protect the water needs of endangered or vulnerable species.
26. The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) left it up to each state to decide how to manage the coastline, but it did have some requirements for those plans. Which of the following is NOT a requirement for state plans under the CZMA? a. It must give priority considerations to water-dependent uses such as industrial operations. b. It must shield coastal areas from damage due to overdevelopment. c. It must protect the water needs of endangered or vulnerable species. d. It must adopt building codes to minimize damage from storms and flooding
false
27. True or False: In modern water management, any freshwater that is not used by humans before it reaches the coast is considered a waste.
c. Overharvesting.
28. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the decline of the delta smelt in the San JoaquinSacramento River Delta in California? a. Pumping river water for use elsewhere. b. Warming climate. c. Overharvesting. d. Drought.
b. The sand used to replenish Captiva Island was carried to Sanibel Island over time due to the prevailing currents.
29. In Chapter 18 of the book by Jack Davis, he states that there were winners and losers when it came to the long-term impacts of beach restoration. Describe why Sanibel Island only needed one beach replenishment project in three decades, while Captiva Island needed seven. a. Unlike Captiva Island, Sanibel Island is not a barrier island, so it doesn't move. b. The sand used to replenish Captiva Island was carried to Sanibel Island over time due to the prevailing currents. c. Sanibel Island is fed by a major river. d. A canal that was dug through Captiva Island widened over time, and caused extensive erosion of the sediment along its banks.
false
75. True or False: The Mississippi River is in the top 100 rivers in the world in terms of plastic pollution transport and emissions into the world's oceans.
a. A scale likeness of the lower Mississippi River made up of foam tiles that allows real water and sediment to flow through to simulate water and sediment dynamics in the Mississippi River.
3. What is the Lower Mississippi River Physical Model? a. A scale likeness of the lower Mississippi River made up of foam tiles that allows real water and sediment to flow through to simulate water and sediment dynamics in the Mississippi River. b. A computer simulation that is run on a supercomputer, allowing researchers to test the effects of different restoration techniques on hydrography in coastal Louisiana given prevailing conditions like sea level rise and hurricanes. c. A concrete representation of the entire Mississippi River that is used primarily as an education tool for visitors to the LSU Center for River Studies. d. A street-level hydrodynamic model that is used to understand future conditions given sea level rise and management decisions we might make, such as the construction of sea walls.
true
30. True or False: Both rehabilitation and restoration can produce a system with a high degree of ecological integrity
a. Remediation.
31. After a toxic spill, a cleanup effort occurs and marsh grass replanted. After the marsh plants fill in, it is determined that any remaining pollutants are buried below stream banks or incorporated in sediments stabilized by the marsh plants. This can be considered a performance measure for successful: a. Remediation. b. Reclamation. c. Restoration. d. It was not a success because the pollution is still in the environment.
d. Rehabilitation.
32. The residents of Qinhuangdao Beach transformed the coastline into a work of art, improving the aesthetic beauty and accessibility of the beach while maintaining the availability of habitat for birds. This was an example of: a. Remediation. b. Reclamation. c. Restoration. d. Rehabilitation.
d. Seagrass replanting on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
33. Which of the following is an example of a highly successful coastal restoration? a. The construction of bench terraces in Vietnam. b. The cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. c. The regeneration of Qinhuangdao Beach. d. Seagrass replanting on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
a. Coral reproduction is failing in the wild- captive breeding efforts are necessary to ensure genetic diversity. b. Coral is being decimated by the stony coral tissue loss disease, and these slow-growing organisms need help to recover. d. Breeding or propagation programs can prioritize native genetic varieties that can resist disease and other stressors.
34. Why restore coral at all- why not just wait for it to come back on its own? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. Coral reproduction is failing in the wild- captive breeding efforts are necessary to ensure genetic diversity. b. Coral is being decimated by the stony coral tissue loss disease, and these slow-growing organisms need help to recover. c. Without protection, scuba divers would quickly harvest all young corals on the reef for the aquarium trade. d. Breeding or propagation programs can prioritize native genetic varieties that can resist disease and other stressors.
b. Reclamation.
35. After severe coastal erosion in which coastal cliffs collapse into the sea, an effort is made to build bench terraces stabilized by a few species of sturdy plants that will reduce erosion. The flat tops of bench terraces are converted to sea viewing areas. Homes are protected at the top of the structure, and the slope is used as a park because the flat tops of bench terraces have been converted to sea viewing areas. This can be considered a performance measure for successful: a. Remediation. b. Reclamation. c. Restoration. d. Rehabilitation.
Oil
36. A. a viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant.
Petroleum
36. B. a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels.
Natural gas
36. C. flammable gas, consisting largely of methane, occurring naturally underground and used as fuel.
Hydrocarbons
36. D. a compound of hydrogen and carbon, such as any of those which are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas. Options: hydrocarbon, petroleum, oil, natural gas.
d. All of these answers are correct.
37. Which of the following represent a possible fate of a dead organism in the ocean? a. It oxidizes through exposure to ambient air or oxygen-rich water. b. It sinks to the bottom and is preserved after burial by small amounts of fine sediments in anoxic conditions. c. It is eaten by scavengers or bacteria. d. All of these answers are correct.
d. All of these answers are correct.
38. Which of the following are requirements to produce mud with enough organic matter that it may be transformed into source rock with produces oil and gas deposits? a. A hot climate that is conducive to the growth of large quantities of plankton. b. A location near the mouth of a major river carrying a lot of plant debris. c. No nearby mountains that could limit the volume of inorganic sediment within the rock. d. All of these answers are correct.
false
39. True or False: The late Cretaceous period was a time of significant source rock accumulation.
d. The land in coastal Louisiana is disappearing at a rate of approximately one football field of marshland every 100 minutes.
4. Which of the following is a figure commonly cited to describe the rate of wetland loss in coastal Louisiana? a. In coastal Louisiana, land is disappearing into the sea at a rate equivalent to the area of the state of Rhode Island every year. b. The coastal marsh of Louisiana is being lost at a rate of one square kilometer a minute. c. Between land lost and land gained in different areas in coastal Louisiana, the result is net land loss at a rate equivalent to the area of city of New Orleans every five years. d. The land in coastal Louisiana is disappearing at a rate of approximately one football field of marshland every 100 minutes.
a. The depth of the source rock beneath the surface- deeper source rock produces primarily natural gas.
40. Which of the following determine whether source rock will produce primarily oil or primarily natural gas? a. The depth of the source rock beneath the surface- deeper source rock produces primarily natural gas. b. The origin of organic debris- if the source rock is composed of mostly plant debris it will produce more oil than gas. c. The depth of the source rock beneath the surface- deeper source rock produces primarily oil. d. The amount of time that has passed since source rock formation- the older the source rock, the more oil it will produce.
c. The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into rocks to break apart the rock and extract oil or gas.
41. What is fracking? a. Piping crude oil through hot furnaces and then discharging liquids and vapors into a distillation column. b. Separating liquid and gas hydrocarbons into petroleum components according to their boiling points. c. The process of injecting liquid at high pressure into rocks to break apart the rock and extract oil or gas. d. Mixing oil sands with hot water and then pumping the mixture to an upgrader where the oil is separated from other components.
b. Salt domes were important high ground and served as camp sites for early Spanish explorers.
42. The salt domes in the Gulf of Mexico have been quite important in the history of the region and, in some cases, the nation. Which of the following is NOT true about the salt domes? a. Avery Island is a salt dome surrounded by salt marsh that is a sanctuary for snowy egrets and home to Tabasco hot sauce. b. Salt domes were important high ground and served as camp sites for early Spanish explorers. c. When the U.S. Government decided to create the SPR in the mid-1970s it acquired salt dome caverns to store the first 250 million barrels of crude oil. d. The discovery of an oil reserve at the Spindletop salt dome ignited a drilling spree on similar structures across the Gulf Coast.
d. As a salt dome grows the surrounding rocks are arched upwards and faulting occurs, creating many locations for oil and gas to accumulate.
43. Why are salt domes such promising locations to look for oil and gas reservoirs? a. The salt is easier to drill through than surrounding shale. b. Long ago, salt within these domes dissolved away deep underground and left behind caverns that are filled with oil and gas. c. Salt domes are associated with elemental sulfur which can be recovered at the same time as oil and gas, adding to the profit margin of drilling activities. d. As a salt dome grows the surrounding rocks are arched upwards and faulting occurs, creating many locations for oil and gas to accumulate.
d. Spills are caused by people making mistakes or companies not following standards
44. What is the major causative factor in most oil spills? a. Spills happen because we don't understand enough about the properties of oil to safely extract it. b. Spills occur because oil has become harder to come by, resulting in riskier drilling practices to extract hard-to-reach oil deposits. c. Oil spills happen because most oil infrastructure is in remote locations that are nearly impossible to service and keep up-to-code. d. Spills are caused by people making mistakes or companies not following standards
a. Oil droplets sank rapidly into sediment and beach sand. d. Oil droplets traveled in a massive underwater plume.
45. Dispersants were used during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. What were the results of dispersant use on the underwater plume? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. Oil droplets sank rapidly into sediment and beach sand. b. Sunlight was able to rapidly degrade the smaller oil droplets created by dispersants. c. Smaller, lighter oil droplets were easily collected by booms and skimmers at the surface. d. Oil droplets traveled in a massive underwater plume.
a. For years after the spill, dolphins were washing up stillborn. b. Fish had deformities and lesions. c. Many dolphins that survived the spill had signs of liver disease, pneumonia, lung damage, or underdeveloped lungs. d. Oil plumes killed large expanses of deep sea coral.
46. Which of the following were environmental impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. For years after the spill, dolphins were washing up stillborn. b. Fish had deformities and lesions. c. Many dolphins that survived the spill had signs of liver disease, pneumonia, lung damage, or underdeveloped lungs. d. Oil plumes killed large expanses of deep sea coral.
true
47. True or False: A substantial amount of oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is believed to remain along the sea floor near the spill site and along the path the plume traveled.
skimmer
48. A. A device for recovering spilled oil from the water's surface.
dispersants
48. B. Chemicals that break up oil into small droplets.
boom
48. C. A temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill.
bioremediation
48. D. Promoting the growth of bacteria to clean up oil spills.
b. Exposure to oil increases risk of dangerous blood clots.
49. It is the year 2030, and unfortunately there is another oil spill threatening coastal Louisiana. You sign up for the cleanup crew, to clean booms and rescue oiled wildlife. You know this task comes with risks to your health. Which of the following does NOT describe a possible health consequence of exposure to oil? a. People exposed to oil may also be exposed to mercury which damages the brain and liver. b. Exposure to oil increases risk of dangerous blood clots. c. People exposed to oil and gas from spills have increased risk of cancer and damage to reproductive organs. d. Exposure to dispersants may cause damage to the airway and heart abnormalities.
a. Inland communities will have far inferior protection from hurricanes. b. Fishermen who have moved inland will have longer travel times to get out to the Gulf. c. Substantial money will need to be spent to move oil and gas infrastructure as the land under large buildings in Port Fourchon and Venice disappears. d. Entire communities will lose road connection to the rest of Louisiana and will face relocation.
5. What are some possible consequences of projected land loss in Louisiana, if the trend is not reversed? More than one answer may be correct, please choose all of the correct answers. a. Inland communities will have far inferior protection from hurricanes. b. Fishermen who have moved inland will have longer travel times to get out to the Gulf. c. Substantial money will need to be spent to move oil and gas infrastructure as the land under large buildings in Port Fourchon and Venice disappears. d. Entire communities will lose road connection to the rest of Louisiana and will face relocation.
a. The oil impacted a wide swath of coastline, and very little oil was recovered due to the delay in cleanup.
50. Why was the Exxon Valdez oil spill so damaging to the environment? a. The oil impacted a wide swath of coastline, and very little oil was recovered due to the delay in cleanup. b. The oil was partially refined and contained a large number of additional chemicals such as lead and mercury which were toxic to sea life. c. The response team used controlled burning, but the burning raged out of control and resulted in forest fires. d. The spill happened so close to shore that there was no chance to begin cleanup efforts before it reached fragile coastal habitats.
b. It can be used for environmental assessments, emergency response, and response planning activities. c. It can inform design, routing, permitting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of different projects.
51. How does the knowledge of the transport patterns of oil help the oil industry? Multiple answers may be correct, choose all correct answers. a. It can help determine where oil may be located far underground. b. It can be used for environmental assessments, emergency response, and response planning activities. c. It can inform design, routing, permitting, construction, operation, and decommissioning of different projects. d. It can be used to plan marsh and mangrove restoration projects.
false
52. True or False: Cold seeps are different from hydrothermal vents because cold seeps are not colonized by diverse sea creatures, while vents support diverse life.
b. Microbes synthesize organic compounds from inorganic chemicals and provide energy for their host organisms, allowing them to survive in the absence of sunlight. c. Microbes devouring hydrocarbons at seeps cause Ca-Mg carbonates to precipitate, building up hard bottom which become good places for diverse life (and even corals) to settle and grow
53. How does microbial activity at cold seeps facilitate diverse ecological communities at these locations? Multiple answers may be correct, choose all correct answers. a. Microbes devouring hydrocarbons clean up pollution around seeps and allow other pollution-sensitive organisms to move in. b. Microbes synthesize organic compounds from inorganic chemicals and provide energy for their host organisms, allowing them to survive in the absence of sunlight. c. Microbes devouring hydrocarbons at seeps cause Ca-Mg carbonates to precipitate, building up hard bottom which become good places for diverse life (and even corals) to settle and grow d. Microbes create bacterial mats that keep harmful invasive species from taking over lots of space at seeps and allowing diverse native species to colonize and thrive.
b. The process that describes how the structure of a biological community changes over time.
54. What is ecological succession? a. The efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. b. The process that describes how the structure of a biological community changes over time. c. The synthesis of organic compounds from inorganic chemicals, typically in the absence of sunlight. d. Biomass accumulated by organisms per unit time.
true
56. True or False: Cold-water corals are white because they do not have algal symbionts.
a. Currents are necessary to mix coral sperm and egg cells for successful fertilization. c. Being in an area with current brings more food past coral tentacles. d. Without currents, hard bottom necessary for coral attachments would soon become buried in sediments.
57. Why are currents so important to deep sea corals? Multiple answers may be correct, choose all correct answers. a. Currents are necessary to mix coral sperm and egg cells for successful fertilization. b. Deep sea corals produce toxic substances that need to be removed with currents, or else they will bleach and die. c. Being in an area with current brings more food past coral tentacles. d. Without currents, hard bottom necessary for coral attachments would soon become buried in sediments.
a. Currents tend to speed up around raised features on the seafloor. b. Particles do not settle in a valley with a current going through it. c. A current will form through a valley as it goes around some type of mound or hill. d. Things that settle on the top of a raised feature tend to stay there
58. Which of the following are true about currents interacting with sea floor features and associated sediment? Multiple answers may be correct, choose all correct answers. a. Currents tend to speed up around raised features on the seafloor. b. Particles do not settle in a valley with a current going through it. c. A current will form through a valley as it goes around some type of mound or hill. d. Things that settle on the top of a raised feature tend to stay there
a. Giving out seafloor lease agreements and drilling permits to oil and gas companies. c. Sponsoring scientific research to understand the deep sea environment and the ecosystems found there. d. Managing deep sea fisheries in federal waters
59. Which of the following are activities under the purview of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)? More than one answer may be correct, choose all of the correct answers. a. Giving out seafloor lease agreements and drilling permits to oil and gas companies. b. Apprehending and punishing lease holders who are out of compliance with regulations. c. Sponsoring scientific research to understand the deep sea environment and the ecosystems found there. d. Managing deep sea fisheries in federal waters
true
6. True or False: The people of Isle de Jean Charles are Louisiana's first climate refugees.
true
60. True or False: The Rigs-to-Reefs program removes decommissioned rigs and plants new coral reefs in its place to help the environment heal.
b. Removing the structure from the water also removed habitat for coral.
61. You are out fishing offshore with a friend, and suddenly you are surrounded by several oil platforms, a couple of which are rusted and clearly not in use any more. Your friend states that it is a shame oil infrastructure is not removed from the water after it is decommissioned. You know there is a good reason these platforms have been left standing. What do you say? More than one answer may be at least partially correct, but please choose the response that addresses your friend's concern the best and reflects what we have learned in class. a. Removal of the structure will require dredging, which is very harmful to the environment. b. Removing the structure from the water also removed habitat for coral. c. Removing the structure risks destabilization of the blowout preventer that is designed to stop leaks. d. Decommissioned rigs are popular spots for fishing.
false
62. True or False: On average, hurricanes kill thousands of people per year in the United States.
d. The Coriolis force causes a rightward (clockwise) deflection in winds that approach the low pressure system, which sets up a cyclonic (counterclockwise) circulation around the hurricane low pressure system.
63. How does the rotation of a hurricane form? Answer this question from a Northern hemisphere perspective. a. Hurricanes do not actually rotate- the clouds appear to swirl when viewed from space, but there is no actual circular motion of the winds. b. Hurricanes form as an eddy, which always rotate to the right in the northern hemisphere. c. The winds on the north side of the storm are stronger than those on the south side of the storm, and this differential wind strength results in a cyclonic (counterclockwise) circulation around the eye of the storm. d. The Coriolis force causes a rightward (clockwise) deflection in winds that approach the low pressure system, which sets up a cyclonic (counterclockwise) circulation around the hurricane low pressure system.
C. Warm ocean air rises and strengthens an area of low pressure underneath. A. Rising and cooling air forms powerful thunderstorms. D. Air rushes towards the center of the low pressure area B. A low pressure area moves through the moisture-rich tropics.
64. The following events describe parts of the formation of a hurricane. Sort the events in time. A. Rising and cooling air forms powerful thunderstorms. B. A low pressure area moves through the moisture-rich tropics. C. Warm ocean air rises and strengthens an area of low pressure underneath. D. Air rushes towards the center of the low pressure area.
a. A rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm.
65. What is a storm surge? a. A rising of the sea as a result of atmospheric pressure changes and wind associated with a storm. b. The observed curved path of moving objects relative to the surface of the Earth. c. Cloudiness or haziness of fluid, in this case because of sediments kicked up by the storm. d. A low pressure area that moves through the moisture-rich tropics.
b. On the side of the hurricane where the direction of hurricane travel and the direction of the winds are aligned.
67. Which portion of a hurricane is considered the danger zone? a. At the eye, where the center of the hurricane makes landfall. b. On the side of the hurricane where the direction of hurricane travel and the direction of the winds are aligned. c. South of where the hurricane makes landfall. d. Behind the hurricane where water piles up.
b. The forecasted intensity of the hurricane may not be very accurate, because predicting changes in the intensity of a hurricane remains a problem for meteorologists. d. The forecasted path of the hurricane will likely be quite accurate because there has been considerable reduction in forecast path error in recent years
68. A hurricane is approaching Louisiana. You take a look at the forecast. Which of the following do you know to be true about the hurricane forecast? More than one answer may be correct, choose all of the correct answers. a. The forecast will not be accurate and should not be trusted. b. The forecasted intensity of the hurricane may not be very accurate, because predicting changes in the intensity of a hurricane remains a problem for meteorologists. c. Modern forecasts are made without radar and weather satellites so they can't provide much advance warning of a hurricane's approach. d. The forecasted path of the hurricane will likely be quite accurate because there has been considerable reduction in forecast path error in recent years
a. Short-term changes in salinity and increases in turbidity. b. Mortality of organisms sensitive to salinity extremes. c. Physical damage to oyster reefs. d. Changes to the structure of beach, dunes, barrier islands
69. Which of the following are impacts of hurricanes to the coast? More than one answer may be correct, choose all of the correct answers. a. Short-term changes in salinity and increases in turbidity. b. Mortality of organisms sensitive to salinity extremes. c. Physical damage to oyster reefs. d. Changes to the structure of beach, dunes, barrier islands
c. The entire town has been resettled to one location outside of New Orleans.
7. Which of the following is NOT an impact the people of Isle de Jean Charles are facing currently due to land loss? a. The only road out of the town floods frequently, limiting access to the mainland. b. Many important community amenities, such as a church, are gone. c. The entire town has been resettled to one location outside of New Orleans. d. The people of Isle de Jean Charles have lost trust in the governments put in place to protect their rights.
b. Advising the public to stock pile gasoline during hurricane season
70. Which of the following is NOT part of a strategy that helps a community prepare for a hurricane? a. Securing essential property or hazardous materials. b. Advising the public to stock pile gasoline during hurricane season. c. Fortify structures and modifying utilities to survive strong winds and flooding. d. Securing essential property or hazardous materials.
d. Poisoning by DDT used in agriculture.
71. According to the book by Jack Davis, what was the cause for the decline of brown pelicans in the Gulf of Mexico in the 1950s and 1960s? a. Overhunting. b. Major storms destroying breeding grounds. c. Avian disease. d. Poisoning by DDT used in agriculture.
a. They are toxic. b. They are persistent and resist normal processes that break down contaminants. d. They accumulate in the body fat of humans and marine life.
72. Why do persistent organic pollutants (POPs) pose a particular hazard to human health and ecosystem integrity? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. They are toxic. b. They are persistent and resist normal processes that break down contaminants. c. They are caustic and can result in serious tissue burns. d. They accumulate in the body fat of humans and marine life.
c. Synthetic toxins tend to bioaccumulate more readily than natural toxins.
73. Which of the following is NOT a cause of toxin bioaccumulation? a. Persistence - where the substance cannot be broken down by environmental processes. b. Low or non-existent rate of internal degradation or excretion of the substance, mainly due to water insolubility. c. Synthetic toxins tend to bioaccumulate more readily than natural toxins. d. Food chain energetics - where the substance's concentration increases progressively as it moves up a food chain.
a. DDT is very good at controlling mosquitos, and the benefits outweigh the harm.
74. DDT is banned in the United States. Why does it continue to be used elsewhere? a. DDT is very good at controlling mosquitos, and the benefits outweigh the harm. b. DDT has been reformulated to be less toxic to wildlife. c. DDT can be used safely when it's not in danger of entering the watershed. d. DDT does not actually cause any environmental damage- it is safe
a. Fishermen are not required to report how many crab pots they use, or lose.
77. Why is it difficult to know how many derelict crab pots are out in the environment? a. Fishermen are not required to report how many crab pots they use, or lose. b. Crab pots decay rapidly, so they may disappear by the time crab pot surveys occur each year. c. Fishermen frequently locate and remove derelict gear when they see it on their fish finders. d. All of these answers are correct.
c. natural migration
78. Which of the following is NOT a likely cause of invasive species introductions? a. hitchhiking b. pet release c. natural migration d. human transport
a. It is a system where one variable increases another variable, which in turn increases the first variable. c. An example of a positive feedback loop is a marine bioinvasion.
79. Which of the following are true of a positive feedback loop? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. It is a system where one variable increases another variable, which in turn increases the first variable. b. The effect of a positive feedback loop on the system as a whole is "positive", or good. c. An example of a positive feedback loop is a marine bioinvasion. d. Positive feedback loops only occur in healthy, productive marine environments.
d. Seagrass planting
8. Which of the following is NOT an example of a type of project that is being completed in coastal Louisiana to prevent or reverse land loss? a. Sediment diversions. b. Marsh creation. c. Oyster barrier reefs. d. Seagrass planting.
true
80. True or False: Lionfish are currently the only known invasive marine fish in the Caribbean and southeastern United States.
d. Lionfish produce a toxin that destroys the surrounding reef and kill the fish that call it home.
81. Which of the following is NOT a reason that invasive lionfish are so damaging to the environment? a. Native species have no defenses to avoid being eaten by a lionfish. b. A lionfish can eat way more than it needs to survive, in a very short period of time. c. Lionfish are known to target sensitive or endangered reef fish. d. Lionfish produce a toxin that destroys the surrounding reef and kill the fish that call it home.
b. Yes, because the marsh damage decreased as more nutria were removed.
82. According to this graph, depicting the number of nutria harvested (the bar graph) and the amount of damaged marsh observed (the line graph), was the Nutria Control Program (implemented in 2002) successful in its goal to protect the marsh by removing nutria? a. No, because although marsh damage decreased it does not appear to be related to the nutria removals. b. Yes, because the marsh damage decreased as more nutria were removed. c. No, because the number of nutria in Louisiana increased over time. d. Yes, because many nutria were removed.
a. Boat operators are urged to clean recreational equipment before moving on to another body of water. d. Vessels carrying saltwater can exchange ballast water in freshwater lakes, and vice versa, to kill any hitchhikers
83. Which of the following are precautions that can be taken to prevent introduction of invasive species? Multiple answers may be correct, please choose all correct answers. a. Boat operators are urged to clean recreational equipment before moving on to another body of water. b. Species distribution models are used to predict distribution and expansion, based on a species' preference for certain environmental conditions (temperature, salinity). c. Mass culling or derbies can be employed to remove large numbers of invasive species from heavily impacted areas. d. Vessels carrying saltwater can exchange ballast water in freshwater lakes, and vice versa, to kill any hitchhikers
a. Transportation throughways and pipelines crisscross the region and serve as conduits for the spread of invasive species. c. Port activity accounts for a lot of accidental introduction of species and Louisiana is home to many major and minor ports. d. Louisiana's subtropical climate allows many incoming species to survive upon arrival.
84. Why does Louisiana bear a disproportionate share of the ecological and economic burden imparted by invasive species? More than one answer may be correct, choose all of the correct answers. a. Transportation throughways and pipelines crisscross the region and serve as conduits for the spread of invasive species. b. The habitats in coastal Louisiana are much more fragile than other types of habitat which allows invasive species to have a more damaging effect on the environment. c. Port activity accounts for a lot of accidental introduction of species and Louisiana is home to many major and minor ports. d. Louisiana's subtropical climate allows many incoming species to survive upon arrival.
c. Nitrate
85. Which of the following is NOT an example of a toxin that bioaccumulates in the food web? a. Ciguatoxin. b. Mercury. c. Nitrate. d. Dioxin.
Diatoms
86. A. Has a two-part cell wall made of silica.
Coccolithophores
86. B. A calcareous scale-bearing marine algae.
Dinoflagellates
86. C. Has a whiplike structure they use to swim.
Green algae
86. D. A simple, single-celled plant
c. Predatory effects- to stun or incapacitate their prey and make them easier to digest.
87. Which of the following is NOT a reason that phytoplankton produce toxin? a. Competitive effects- to keep other organisms out of the phytoplankton's nutrient space. b. Anti-grazing- to reduce the number of phytoplankton that are eaten by other organisms. c. Predatory effects- to stun or incapacitate their prey and make them easier to digest. d. Anti-microbial- to ward off bacteria that are harmful to phytoplankton.
c. Exposure to toxins can cause chronic fatigue and pain in humans
88. Which of the following is NOT a consequence of a Karenia brevis bloom? a. Aerosolized toxins produced by Karenia brevis are linked to respiratory illnesses in humans. b. Consumption of shellfish that have eaten Karenia brevis causes neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. c. Exposure to toxins can cause chronic fatigue and pain in humans. d. Massive fish kills resulting from damage and disruption of neurologic functions
d. They protect the marshes from the worst of the wave energy and therefore prevent erosion
9. Why are barrier islands a major target for marsh restoration? a. The barrier islands serve as a key supply of sand for restoration projects elsewhere. b. There are small towns on every barrier island in Louisiana, and they face relocation if the islands can't be restored. c. The sediments beneath the surface of the islands are heavily oiled, and if marsh is not restored, the oil may be exposed and released to surrounding areas. d. They protect the marshes from the worst of the wave energy and therefore prevent erosion