OCE1001 Chapter 11
Of the following statements about ocean ownership and the Law of the Sea, which is/are true?
-Coastal nations own the resources of the area 200 nautical miles from their shoreline, which is called the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). -The Law of the Sea Treaty, which establishes the rights of nations in ocean ownership, was ratified by the required 60th nation in 1993. -Forty-two percent of the world's oceans are under the control of coastal nations. -If the continental shelf (defined geologically) exceeds the 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), countries are allowed to extend their ownership to 350 nautical miles from shore.
Which of the following are viable options for reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean?
-Educate people so they understand the impacts of their choices on the environment. -Dispose of plastics properly and recycle when possible. -Support proposals that ban or regulate the use or sale of single-use plastics and their improper disposal at sea. -People can reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
Which of the following properties of plastic make it unusually persistent and damaging?
-It is strong. -It is durable. -It is inexpensive. -It is lightweight.
Of the following statements, which is/are included in the World Health Organization's definition of marine pollution?
-Marine pollution results in or is likely to result in harmful effects to marine life. -Marine pollution is human-made. -Marine pollution can be a substance or a form of energy.
Which of the following statements correctly explain the issues with plastics in the marine environment?
-Plastics photodegrade into smaller fragments, ultimately becoming microplastics. -Large durable pieces of plastic can entangle marine animals. -Drifting plastics can be ingested by animals that mistake them for their natural gelatinous prey. -Plastics do not biodegrade. -Microbeads bind chemical pollutants like PCBs and DDTs.
Which of the following techniques are the best options for cleaning up after an oil spill?
-Skim floating oil off the surface immediately after the spill. -Introduce microbes to begin the process of bioremediation.
Which of the following correctly describes the impacts of known biological pollutants?
-The Atlantic comb jelly has damaged fisheries in the Black Sea. -The seaweed Caulerpa has smothered ecosystems where it was introduced. -Zebra mussels have outcompeted native mussels in the Great Lakes region.
Which of the following marine pollutants will bioaccumulate or biomagnify in the food web?
-mercury -PCBs -DDTs
Based on the World Health Organization's definition of marine pollution, which of the following is/are considered to be a form of marine pollution?
-raw sewage released onto the floor of the deep ocean -warmer-than-normal water created by outflow from a coastal power plant -sound from cargo ships traversing the ocean -biodegradable food items dumped overboard from a cruise ship
Which of the following marine pollutants are biodegradable?
-the seaweed Caulerpa -petroleum -crude oil
Which two single-use items are the most common types of marine debris found during beach cleanups?
Cigarette filters and plastic bags
The pollutant responsible for major declines in the populations of pelicans, ospreys, and other marine birds was
DDT
Consider a coastal region that repeatedly experiences harmful algal blooms because of fertilizer runoff. A local politician suggests introducing the zebra mussel, because they filter feed and will clear the water of the bloom. Why is this an ill-advised proposition from an ecological standpoint?
They have no natural predators and can dramatically alter the ecosystem.
What is the greatest anthropogenic source of petroleum pollution to the ocean?
Urban runoff and individual vehicle owners
Under the protection of the Law of the Sea treaty, a coastal nation has the right to
extract oil at will within the jurisdiction of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The biggest concern with biological pollutants is that they often
lack predators and other natural controls
What form of chemical pollution results in neurological damage that can range from blindness to brain damage to paralysis and even death?
methylmercury
All types of pollution are harmful, but ________ is among the least damaging forms.
oil
According to the World Health Organization definition of marine pollutants, __________ is NOT a pollutant.
oil from offshore seeps
The greatest amount of oil pollution in the ocean from human sources is from
petroleum consumption
An example of non-point source pollution is
plastic debris washed down storm drains
The international Law of the Sea treaty __________.
provides for arbitration of disputes
The following are all examples of nonpoint source pollutants in the ocean EXCEPT
sewage sludge
Biomagnification of toxic substances means that
toxic substances become increasingly concentrated in the tissues of organisms in each higher level of the food web
A close friend of yours announces that she is newly pregnant and wants to go out for a nice seafood dinner to celebrate! You agree, but using your newfound knowledge on ocean pollution, you strongly advise her that in order to protect her baby from birth defects, she should avoid eating
tuna, because biomagnification results in high levels of methylmercury
