AP Environmental saltwater
Of the following ecosystems, which has the lowest net primary productivity, measured as kilocalories of energy produced per square meter per year? A) Taiga (boreal forest) B) Open ocean C) Temperature grassland D) Estuary E) Agricultural land
B) Open ocean
Which of the following best explains why the maximum sustainable yield for ocean fisheries has been exceeded? A) Populations of fish-eating birds such as the albatross have increased. B) Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested. C) Too many marine fish farms have been created. D) Everything trapped by large bottom trawl nets is used for food. E)For every calorie of fish caught, a ship uses only about 0.5 calorie of fuel energy.
B) Too many fish of reproductive age are harvested.
Coral bleaching can be hazardous to some fish species because A) coral reefs provide unique habitats for fish B) decomposition of corals can lead to ocean acidification C) the dead corals attract predators that feed on the fish D) the corals are the primary source of O2O2 in ocean water
B) decomposition of corals can lead to ocean acidification
Phytoplankton are most abundant in the upper few hundred feet of most bodies of water because A) they can most readily hide from predators there B) sunlight does not penetrate to great depths in water C) as primary producers, they must be accessible to many other organisms D) they are benthic organisms E) they feed on zooplankton, which are found only in the top layers of water
B) sunlight does not penetrate to great depths in water
For a primary producer, the main function of photosynthesis is to manufacture A) oxygen B) carbon dioxide C) glucose D) proteins E) water
C) glucose
Open oceans produce the largest share of Earth's biomass because the net primary productivity (NPP) of the oceans is
low, but the large expanse of the oceans supports enormous numbers of producers such as phytoplankton
During an El Niño-Southern Oscillation event, which of the following best describes conditions in the eastern part of the tropical Pacific Ocean (e.g., near Peru and Ecuador)? Describe the sea surface temperature and rainfall
sea surface temperature: high rainfall: high
What is caused by suspended particles
turbidity
Which of the following environmental problems is most directly linked to ocean warming? A) Coral bleaching B) Beaching of whales and dolphins C) Decreased global sea level D) Decreased ocean sedimentation
A) Coral bleaching Increased ocean temperatures can kill photosynthetic algae that coral need to survive, leading to bleaching.
Which of the following is an unintended environmental consequence of aquaculture? A) Meeting an increasing demand for seafood B) Decreasing the prevalence of disease in nearby wild fish C) Contamination of surrounding water by organic waste D) High initial cost of facility
A) Meeting an increasing demand for seafood
Which of the following is the best example of an economic approach to reduce overfishing for a fish species with a declining population? A) The federal government sets a catch limit (per person or per boat) for the species and imposes a tax on any extra fish that are caught. B) A conservation agency creates marine parks where the area is a no-catch zone for the species so that the species can recover and population size can increase. C) The state government introduces a subsidy for large fishing companies to help them afford to hire more crew members. D) An educational group produces signs and video clips to encourage individuals to buy locally caught seafood and to avoid eating big fish like tuna and shark.
A) The federal government sets a catch limit (per person or per boat) for the species and imposes a tax on any extra fish that are caught. The use of a tax penalty makes this an economic deterrent to catching too many fish. This method should reduce the total number of fish caught and would be one approach using economics to encourage change.
El Niño, a periodic warming of ocean surface waters, occurs in which of the following regions? A) Tropical East Pacific B) Gulf of Mexico C) Arctic North Pacific D) Temperate West Atlantic E) Tropical Indian Ocean
A) Tropical East Pacific
The farming of fish such as salmon at aquaculture facilities poses a threat to marine ecosystems because A) the farmed fish can escape and outcompete wild fish for food and territory B) farm-raised salmon often pass on toxic chemicals such as mercury to eagles and other fish-eating birds C) invasive plant species common in aquaculture facilities can spread to nearby waters D) fewer wild fish will be harvested for human consumption
A) the farmed fish can escape and outcompete wild fish for food and territory Escaped fish compete with nearby wild fish for food, habitat, and spawning partners. A major concern about the use of aquaculture is farmed fish escaping the enclosure.
Which of the following statements is true of aquatic biomes? A) Freshwater and marine biomes are evenly distributed on Earth. B) Freshwater biomes are a vital source of drinking water. C) Freshwater biomes supply a greater portion of Earth's oxygen than marine biomes. D) Marine biomes include streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.
B)Freshwater biomes are a vital source of drinking water.
El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena associated with changing water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The occurrence of these events can result in changes in global weather and ocean circulation patterns. Which of the following is a positive effect likely to result from an El Niño event? A) Increased droughts in Central and South America B) Reduced chance of winter floods in California and the Pacific Northwest C) Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin D) Fewer heat waves in Australia
C) Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin El Niño results in cooler Atlantic water temperatures and strong winds, which reduce hurricane formation.
El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena associated with changing water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. The occurrence of these events can result in changes in global weather and ocean circulation patterns. Which of the following changes in eastern Pacific Ocean food webs is typically associated with La Niña events? A) Decreased populations of squid B) Decreased populations of anchovies C) Increased phytoplankton concentrations D) Increased famine among sea lions and seals
C) Increased phytoplankton concentrations La Niña events increase both phytoplankton concentrations and, as a result, numbers of species higher up the food web because of increased nutrient levels.
Which of the following best describes legislation that could be used to address problems with overfishing? A) The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITESCITES ) uses trade rules to protect commercially valuable species. B) The Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of pollutants in surface waters. C) The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( RCRARCRA ) provides guidelines for the management of aquatic resources. D) The Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act regulates the harvesting of fish species for human consumption.
C) The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( RCRARCRA ) provides guidelines for the management of aquatic resources.
Which of the following is the most likely effect of a strong El Niño event on the weather patterns in the United States? A) Wetter weather and cooler temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and warmer temperatures with more snow in the northeastern states B) Drier weather in the western states and wetter weather in the eastern states C) Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest D) Overall warmer temperatures and drier conditions throughout the entire United States
C) Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest In an El Niño event, the reduced upwelling off the South American coast affects wind patterns as the warmer water and air move toward South America. This leads to cooler and wetter conditions in the southeastern United States and warmer temperatures in the Pacific Northwest.
Salmon farming threatens the health of wild salmon stocks primarily because A) salmon farming prevents commercial fishing fleets from overharvesting wild salmon B) salmon farming prevents interbreeding between domesticated varieties of salmon and their wild counterparts C) farmed salmon can spread parasites and disease to wild salmon D) farmed salmon compete with wild salmon for spawning sites E) farmed salmon can contain chemicals derived from food additives and antibiotics that may be harmful to human consumers
C) farmed salmon can spread parasites and disease to wild salmon
Which of the following biomes is best characterized as an area that forms the narrow band along the coast that experiences a range of environmental conditions (including daily changes in sunlight, temperature, and water) ? A) Open ocean B) Lakes C) Coral reefs D) Intertidal zones
D) Intertidal zones
Which of the following is true of farm-raised salmon? A) They are more genetically diverse than their wild counterparts. B) They seldom escape from their containment areas. C) They have no impact on the quality of the water in which they are raised. D) They are often infected with parasites and sea lice. E) They are maintained at lower population densities than are wild salmon.
D) They are often infected with parasites and sea lice.
One way that consumers can help prevent a decrease in the number of fish species that are experiencing population declines is to A) help get laws passed that allow more fishing in areas that are not fished currently, therefore opening access to greater numbers of fish B) purchase fish harvested through the use of purse seining and long-lining methods so that only the largest fish are caught C) invest in companies that fish near coral reefs, which would take pressure off deep-sea species and eliminate the need for advances in technology D) eat fish that are caught using sustainable harvesting methods, therefore ensuring fish populations remain stable and reducing the amount bycatch harvested
D) eat fish that are caught using sustainable harvesting methods, therefore ensuring fish populations remain stable and reducing the amount bycatch harvested
The major biological source of dissolved oxygen in the ocean comes from A) decomposition of organic sediments on the ocean floor B) metabolic processes of coral in reefs C) oxidation of sulfur by bacteria in ocean vent communities D) photosynthesis by phytoplankton E) respiration by zooplankton
D) photosynthesis by phytoplankton
Which of the following regions of the ocean is LEAST likely to contain photosynthetic organisms? A) Intertidal zone B) Zone of coastal upwelling C) Pelagic zone D) Euphotic zone E) Abyssal zone
E) Abyssal zone
Which of the following is a direct economic advantage associated with aquaculture? A) Aquaculture breeds genetically modified fish to increase the amount of biodiversity in the population. B) Aquaculture reduces the number of fishing operations in an area. C) Aquaculture produces large amounts of seafood for human purchase and consumption year-round. D) Aquaculture requires large bodies of water for its operations.
c) Aquaculture produces large amounts of seafood for human purchase and consumption year-round.
