Earth 4 Labs
The table below lists the density of some common substances. If you were to pour these substances into a beaker, how would they layer?
-Alcohol -Ice (freshwater) -Seawater -Copper
Using the figure above, what are the two pools of organisms that link large phytoplankton tofish given the options below? I.e., fish eating something that eats large phytoplankton, or fish eating something that eats something .... that eats large phytoplankton, etc. The pointy end of the arrow shows the direction of consumption / carbon transfer. E.g., bacteria eat small phytoplankton, not vice versa.
-Bacteria -Zooplankton
You are given the following information about a sediment core that has experienced the environmental changes listed from the oldest event to most recent. Drag and drop the selected descriptions to best match the changes listed below (make sure the little circle is in the right rectangle area). Be sure to arrange them in the correct chronological order. All answers should be used. Listed from oldest to youngest - The oldest section of the core was along the coast - An ice sheet melted in the area and deposited the contents within the ice onto the seafloor - The sea level rose causing the shoreline to move inland - In the youngest layer, there was a large input of nutrients that fueled primary productivity in the surface ocean
-Calcium carbonate deposits -small sediment grains -poorly sorted rock fragments -sandy layer
In which two months do you see the most prominent longshore bars?
-February -December
Most sea anemones have a relationship with photosynthesizing plankton called zooxanthellae, which they harbor in special cells in their outer layer. These plankton give the anemone its characteristic colors. The anemone provides the plankton with a protected environment in which to live. What benefit do you think the anemone gets from this relationship?
-Oxygen -Food (glucose)
What are some biotic (living) factors organisms must adapt to that live in tide pools and rocky shores?
-Predation -Competition
Match the type of sediment with the process that contributes to the formation.
-Sinking of calcite-forming primary producers from the surface ocean → Biogenic, -Particles carried by wind into the oceans → Lithogenic -Calcite producing coral reefs → Biogenic, -Biological processes → Biogenic, -Weathering and erosion processes → Lithogenic
During low tides, rocky shore or tide pool habitats appear relatively calm. However, tides rise and fall twice per day making these some of the most extreme environments. What are some abiotic (physical & chemical) factors that organisms must adapt to?
-Water temperature changes -Wave action -Tides -Salinity changes -pH changes
For the temperature plot assume any shade of red/orange is 18, green is 5, and any shade of blue is 3. For the salinity plot assume any shade of red/orange is 36, green is 35, and blue is 34.5.
0.0015
Use the Temperature-Salinity plot above to determine the density of seawater with a temperature of 4 °C and salinity of 35.25 (‰/ PSU). You do not need to include the units in your answer but do include all 4 decimal places. You should find that the intersection of the appropriate values from each axes intersect one of the lines, so you can read the density value directly off the figure (no need to interpolate).
1.0280
If the salinity of 5 L of seawater (density = 1.03 g/cm3) was 34 g/kg, how many grams of salt would it contain? Hint: As a first step, use the mass calculated in problem 3 and convert that value to kg. Then you just need one more short calculation to figure out the total mass of salt in grams.
175.1g
What is the mass of 5L of fresh water (density = 1.00 g/cm3)? Include units in your answer and do not include commas (put g or grams as the unit, e.g., 750 g)
5000g
What is the mass of 5L of seawater (density = 1.03 g/cm3)? Include your units in your answer and do not include commas (put g or grams as the unit, e.g., 750 g)
5150g
Given that sediment accumulates over time and builds upward, if you were looking at a sediment core where would you expect to find the oldest sediment?
At the bottom of the core
Kelp is heterotrophic
False
The water column is the best resource for understanding historical events in the ocean.
False
Using the figure below, what is the most important factor that cause waves to refract as they hit the shore at an angle? (wave crests become closer as they approach shore)
Friction
Whereas light energy fuels the reaction of photosynthesis, what source of energy is driving chemosynthesis in the case of sulfide oxidation?
H2S
If the density of ice was greater than seawater density, our oceans would be
Ice at depth and seawater above
Now that we have reviewed the processes that contribute to the major components of sea floor sediment, let's imagine we have gone out on a research vessel and collected a sediment core. An analysis of the section of sediment 20cm down shows an abundance of preserved calcite. Which of the following is the best explanation for this finding?
It corresponds to a time period dominated by coccolithophores
Unlike typical sea stars, brittle stars have arms that are easily detached from the main body disc. How might this adaptation help the brittle star survive?
It helps them to escape predators by detaching an arm
If an anemones is touched or prodded lightly, what is its reaction?
It retracts and closes up
You are looking at a sediment core and find that the top section is composed of sediments with a grain size larger than 2mm. Would you expect it to be from a neritic or pelagic environment?
Neritic
Kelp forests are important habitats for many species. They support a diverse community of plants and animals by providing food and shelter. What keeps kelp afloat?
Pneumatocysts
Figure A shows the depth profile of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC). DIC is used in the surface ocean by phytoplankton that fix it into organic carbon as well as some that use it to make calcium carbonate shells. Figure B shows the carbon export flux from sinking particles, and how this flux changes with depth. What process of the biological pump is bringing the DIC concentration higher with depth in Figure A?
Respiration
Which of the following answers best describes lithogenic sediment?
Sediment produced from the weathering of materials from the continent
The Peru upwelling region is known for being one of the most productive coastal regions on earth, this is due to the persistent trade winds dragging surface water away from the coast, with deep water coming up to replace it. How does this deep water fuel the highly productive region?
The deep water is nutrient rich, which fuels production.
Let's think about the carbonate compensation depth in more detail. You are analyzing some sediments that you know accumulated beneath an area with high productivity of coccolithophores. However, you notice that in a sample from one location you see a lot of CaCO3 ooze in the sediments but in a sample from nearby there is no CaCO3 ooze. Which of the following would best explain these differences?
The sediment with the CaCO3 was collected from sediment that protruded higher into the water column than the sediment with no CaCO3 putting it above the carbonate compensation depth
Look at your calculation for the previous question. The answer you calculated is a change in density in g/cm3. Which answer below most accurately describes what needs to happen to the water in order for it to sink to depth?
The surface water needs to increase in density by the amount you calculated
Since phytoplankton can fix carbon dioxide and export a fraction of it to safely store in the deep ocean, how might this process be intimately linked with the current state of our atmosphere?
This process can decrease atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
El Nino and La Nina years have dramatic effects on this region. El Nino years result in weakened or reversed trade winds, while La Nina years result in strengthened trade winds.
Which phenomenon would bring more fish to the Peruvian fisherman? → La Nina Which phenomenon would bring less fish to the Peruvian fisherman? → El Nino
