quetions nd answers

Although we think of land when we hear the word biome, there are also aquatic biomes. The abiotic factors that influence life forms vary with location within ocean systems. Oceanographers divide the ocean into five broad vertical zones as seen in the chart above. Compare the characteristics of the five zones. Where would you expect to find the kelp forest, a type of algae, pictured here and why?

C) Algae live only in the epipelagic zone because it is the only zone with enough light for photosynthesis.

Conserving the quality of available water is a high priority world-wide. There are many countries where the water supply is reaching dangerous levels of contamination. For example, the longest river in China, the Yangtze, is less than 5 years from death if nothing changes. How could the loss of this river have a negative impact not only the environment in China but across the region?

C) Since the Yangtze empties into the Sea of Shanghai the pollution will travel and have effects on surrounding countries.

Algal blooms occur due to the presence of an excess amount of nutrients, like phosphorus, in fresh water. How does excess phosphorus get into fresh water?

C) The nutrients are a part of the fertilizers that are often washed away into ponds.

The diagram depicts the flow of water through a dam. The flow of water causes the turbine blades to turn. This, in turn, causes a generator to provide energy to the power lines. Which of the flowcharts best outlines the conversion of energy through this hydroelectric technology?

C) kinetic energy to mechanical energy to electrical energy

Considering the characteristics of seagrass, you will most likely find seagrasses in which ocean zone(s)?

C) the continental shelf and the sunlight zone

Many factors determine the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Which choice lists ONLY abiotic factors?

C) the oxygen content of the water, the water temperature, and the chemical composition of the bottom mud

Many types of energy are harnessed to create electricity. Wind and solar power are examples of renewable sources, but petroleum is non-renewable. What fact explains why petroleum is considered non-renewable?

D) Although petroleum is a fossil fuel, created from plant and animal remains, the process takes many millions of years.

______ is a renewable resource that is constant and will never run out.

D) Solar

The development of nuclear power has provided electricity for less money, but at a cost. What may be considered a "cost" of nuclear power?

D) The radioactive waste is unsafe and hard to store safely.

Some car companies are switching to natural gas as an alternative energy source, rather than gasoline. What is an environmental advantage to using natural gas as a fuel source?

D) When natural gas combusts, it realses fewer pollutants than gasoline

Coral bleaching results when the symbiotic zooxanthellae, a single-celled algae, are released from the original host coral organism due to stress. When the zooxantheallae are released, the coral loses its pigment, resulting in a bleached or completely white appearance. The MOST common cause of coral bleaching is

D) increased water temperature.

A marine ecosystem off the California coast consists of leatherback turtles that feed on jellyfish, and killer whales that prey on the leatherback turtles. Habitat loss and fishing have been identified as the main reasons for the reduced numbers of leatherback turtles, who are on the verge of being declared an endangered species. What would be the first effect on the ecosystem if habitat loss and fishing continue unchecked?

A) A spurt in the population of jellyfish

Why are coral reefs home to a huge diverse variety of species?

A) Coral reefs have all the factors necessary to support plants, predators, and prey.

Energy resources can be considered renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources can also be classified as depletable or not based on whether they can ever be used up regardless of the level of consumption. Of the resources shown above, which combination of energy sources can be considered non-depletable?

A) Sun and wind

New Mexico has several natural resources that it uses for energy. An example of a NONRENEWABLE energy source is

A) coal.

Aluminum cans may be collected and processed into new aluminum products over and over again. This illustrates that aluminum is a ___________ resource.

B) recyclable

In which zone is the ocean temperature most affected by the weather?

B) the surface zone