final
The zone where most biological productivity of the ocean occurs is called: a. euphotic zone. b. aphotic zone. c. hyperphotic zone. d. disphotic zone.
a. euphotic zone.
The mechanism of evolution discovered by Darwin and Wallace is: a. taxonomy. b. natural selection. c. classification. d. biology.
b. natural selection.
A good "working definition" for life might be: "A highly organized system that can capture, store, and transmit ____." a. energy b. raw materials c. metabolic products d. waste products
a. energy
Global demand for oil increases by about ____ per year. a. 2 percent b. 0.5 percent c. 25 percent d. 10 percent
a. 2 percent
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning bycatch? a. Bycatch are targeted species. b. Bycatch sometimes greatly exceeds the target catch. c. Bottom trawling is one of the methods that results in a lot of bycatch. d. Sea turtles are an example of bycatch.
a. Bycatch are targeted species.
Which taxonomic group do whales belong to? a. Cetacea b. Pinnipedia c. Sirenia d. Manatee
a. Cetacea
Which of the following domains would a protistan primary producer belong to? a. Eukarya b. Archaea c. Bacteria d. None of these
a. Eukarya
Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the global distribution of phytoplankton? a. In the poles, phytoplankton populations decrease during the summer months. b. There is a constant amount of phytoplankton year-round in the tropics. c. Phytoplankton are most abundant when there are ample nutrients and light. d. Phytoplankton populations vary with latitude and season.
a. In the poles, phytoplankton populations decrease during the summer month
Which of the following bests describes the berm of a beach? a. It is the accumulation of sediment that runs parallel to shore. b. It is highest part of a beach. c. It is the part of the beach that has windblown dunes and grasses. d. It is the accumulation of sediment due to turbidity currents.
a. It is the accumulation of sediment that runs parallel to shore.
Which of the following is FALSE about dissolved gases in the ocean? a. Oxygen dissolves easily in the ocean from the atmosphere. b. Gases dissolve more readily into cold water than warm water. c. Carbon dioxide is much more soluble in water than is oxygen. d. As carbon dioxide dissolves in the ocean, some of it is converted to carbonic acid.
a. Oxygen dissolves easily in the ocean from the atmosphere.
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning breakwaters? a. Sand accumulates directly in front of the breakwater. b. Breakwaters interrupt the progress of waves to the beach. c. Breakwaters weaken longshore currents. d. Breakwaters are often built to protect small-boat anchorages.
a. Sand accumulates directly in front of the breakwater.
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning hydrothermal vents? a. They are found in shallow waters near subduction zones. b. Certain animals are found at hydrothermal vents such as pogonophorans . c. Hydrothermal vents are found associated with spreading centers. d. Vent waters cool as they are released from the vent.
a. They are found in shallow waters near subduction zones.
The area in the ocean without light is called the: a. aphotic zone. b. euphotic zone. c. photic zone. d. epipelagic zone.
a. aphotic zone.
The most common pattern for benthic organism distributions is: a. clumped distribution. b. negative binomial distribution. c. random distribution. d. uniform distribution.
a. clumped distribution.
All other factors being equal, a greater quantity of dissolved gas can be held in solution in ____ seawater. a. cold b. warm c. high salinity d. low salinity
a. cold
The decline of the Easter Island population of humans was in part due to all of the following EXCEPT: a. consumption of the wrong fish species. b. destruction of the palm trees. c. mismanagement of resources. d. overuse and erosion of agricultural land.
a. consumption of the wrong fish species.
All of the following are cetacean adaptations EXCEPT: a. ectothermy. b. streamlined body shape. c. modified respiratory system to collect and retain large amounts of oxygen. d. mammary glands.
a. ectothermy.
Life in productive tropical reefs is characterized by: a. extreme competition for food, territory, and reproductive opportunities. b. very few species, but large numbers of each species. c. large adults in each species that reproduce late in life. d. organisms with extremely long lifespans.
a. extreme competition for food, territory, and reproductive opportunities.
The steep cliffs and rugged coast of much of the West Coast of the United States are primarily the result of: a. faulting and earth movement. b. marine deposition. c. river deposition. d. glacial erosion.
a. faulting and earth movement.
The most dangerous threat to the marine environment, overall, is probably: a. human overpopulation. b. refined oil spills. c. solid waste and synthetic pesticides. d. excessive greenhouse heating.
a. human overpopulation.
An example of a zooplankton that is very important to many pelagic communities is: a. krill. b. squid. c. dinoflagellates. d. diatoms.
a. krill.
An important animal in the food web of Antarctica is (are): a. krill. b. foraminifera. c. diatoms. d. ctenophores.
a. krill.
An example of a vascular plant that is successful in low, muddy coasts in tropical and subtropical areas are: a. mangroves. b. ahermatypic corals. c. kelp. d. macroalgae.
a. mangroves.
The maximum of each species that can be caught without negatively influencing future populations of that species is called the: a. maximum sustainable yield. b. annual catch. c. maximum global landing. d. maximum global harvest.
a. maximum sustainable yield.
Which of the organisms below drift with the ocean currents? a. meroplankton b. nekton c. benthic organisms d. cephalopods
a. meroplankton
Benthic organisms live: a. on or associated with the seafloor. b. suspended in the water column. c. by drifting through the water, unable to swim against currents. d. as parasites.
a. on or associated with the seafloor.
Photosynthetic organisms live in the ___________ of the ocean. a. photic zone b. deep sea c. aphotic d. mesopelagic
a. photic zone
All of the following represent benthic communities EXCEPT: a. phytoplankton. b. kelp forest. c. coral reef. d. hydrothermal vent communities.
a. phytoplankton.
One of Earth's most rigorous habitats is a: a. sand beach. b. coral reef. c. kelp forest. d. rocky intertidal.
a. sand beach.
The "seals" of seal shows are: a. sea lions. b. true seals. c. sea otters. d. manatees.
a. sea lions.
Animals that are attached to the bottom are called: a. sessile. b. motile. c. infaunal. d. interstitial.
a. sessile.
An area that has high nutrient levels and very high seasonal primary productivity are the: a. subpolar zones. b. tropical coastal regions. c. coral reefs. d. tropical open ocean.
a. subpolar zones.
The highest point on a summer beach profile is: a. the berm. b. the backshore. c. the foreshore. d. the low-tide terrace.
a. the berm.
A reason for the great diversity and success of organisms in the rocky intertidal is: a. the large quantity of food available. b. the vast amount of space available. c. the lack of nekton. d. the rise and fall of the tides.
a. the large quantity of food available.
A long-term effect of wave refraction is: a. to smooth and straighten a coast. b. to build out points of land. c. to erode and deepen bays. d. to remove sand from the beach.
a. to smooth and straighten a coast.
The world's largest industry is: a. tourism. b. renewable resources. c. commercial fishing. d. whaling.
a. tourism.
An example of a nonextractive resource provided by the ocean is: a. transportation. b. crabs. c. oil. d. manganese nodules.
a. transportation.
In Darwin's description of reef structures, a fringing reef: a. usually forms on the lee side of a tropical island. b. has a deep lagoon that separates the reef from the island. c. is ring-shaped and is not associated with an island. d. is formed as a volcanic island sinks.
a. usually forms on the lee side of a tropical island.
The single most influential agent changing the shore and coast is: a. wave action. b. the tidal range. c. alternate freezing and thawing of coastal cliffs. d. prevailing winds.
a. wave action.
Plankton that belong to Kingdom Animalia are called: a. zooplankton b. meroplankton c. holoplankton d. phytoplankton
a. zooplankton
An example of a partially mixed estuary is: a. Milford Sound. b. Chesapeake Bay. c. Sydney Harbour. d. San Francisco Bay.
b. Chesapeake Bay.
Which of the following statements best characterizes natural selection? a. Natural selection is the mechanism by which predetermined adaptations are passed to offspring from parents. b. Natural selection is the differential survivorship and reproduction of organisms that have favorable adaptations. c. The natural environment is not involved with the process of natural selection; the heritability of traits is what drives evolution.. d. For natural selection to occur, mutations have to be embedded in the genome.
b. Natural selection is the differential survivorship and reproduction of organisms that have favorable adaptations.
Which of the following is FALSE concerning deep-sea floor organisms? a. Several organisms have adapted unique feeding strategies. b. Organisms that produce calcium carbonate skeletons are unusually strong. c. Metabolic rates are typically low relative to an organism's surface-dwelling relative. d. Most are small in size, but it is not unusual for species to demonstrate gigantism.
b. Organisms that produce calcium carbonate skeletons are unusually strong.
Which of the following is true about a pollutant? a. Pollutants are natural and so organisms develop adaptations to deal with them. b. Pollutants can cause both indirect or direct damage by interrupting biochemical pathways of organisms. c. Most pollutants are capable of causing massive mortality events for marine organisms. d. The concentration of pollutants in the ocean has remained stable since the industrial revolution.
b. Pollutants can cause both indirect or direct damage by interrupting biochemical pathways of organisms.
Which of the following statements applies to resources from the sea? a. They are easier to recover than from the land. b. They are more difficult to locate and extract. c. They are in greater variety than minerals on land. d. They are less expensive to recover than from land.
b. They are more difficult to locate and extract.
Which of the following is FALSE for depositional coasts? a. They have been changed by wave action since sea level stabilized. b. They never support beaches. c. They tend to be older than primary coasts. d. They tend be straighter than primary coasts.
b. They never support beaches.
Only part of this organism's life cycle is spent as a member of the plankton community: a. plankton b. meroplankton c. holoplankton d. phytoplankton
b. meroplankton
What is produced in primary productivity? a. carbon dioxide b. light c. carbohydrates d. gametes (egg cells and sperm cells)
c. carbohydrates
Minamata disease, which affected people living near Minamata Bay in Japan, was finally traced to: a. a vitamin deficiency due to a restricted diet of rice and fish. b. a diet including shellfish contaminated with mercury. c. a diet including seaweeds contaminated with lead from a nearby plastics plant. d. high levels of DDT from local rice farms.
b. a diet including shellfish contaminated with mercury.
A sand spit forms when: a. a long-shore current speeds up. b. a long-shore current slows. c. a turbidity currents flows near a coast. d. a gyre approaches coasts.
b. a long-shore current slows.
An estuary which forms where a rapidly flowing large river enters the ocean in an area where tidal range is low to moderate is called: a. a well-mixed estuary. b. a salt wedge estuary. c. a partially mixed estuary. d. a reverse estuary.
b. a salt wedge estuary.
When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, the water becomes slightly more: a. acidic; its pH is higher. b. acidic; its pH is lower. c. alkaline; its pH is higher. d. alkaline; its pH is lower.
b. acidic; its pH is lower.
Intertidal organisms can protect themselves from wave shock by: a. moving out to the open ocean during high tides. b. adhering themselves to the rocks. c. sliding out of small crack as the wave crashes around them. d. releasing themselves from rocks..
b. adhering themselves to the rocks.
An example of an oceanic bird that can forage across the open ocean for months is the: a. sea gull. b. albatross. c. pelican. d. sandpiper.
b. albatross.
The number of people who can inhabit a given area is in part determined by the: a. ease at which food can be extracted from the environment. b. amount of potable water available. c. ability of the people to build housing. d. amount of evaporation in the area.
b. amount of potable water available.
The growing or farming of marine plants or animals under controlled conditions is called: a. mariculture. b. aquaculture. c. fish farming. d. shrimp farming.
b. aquaculture.
Which of the following functions to maintain a balanced pH in the ocean? a. oxygen b. carbon dioxide c. nitrogen d. phosphate
b. carbon dioxide
A form of autotrophy other than photosynthesis is: a. respiration. b. chemosynthesis. c. heterotrophy. d. decomposition.
b. chemosynthesis.
The oxidation of inorganic molecules such as hydrogen sulfide into carbohydrates is called: a. photosynthesis. b. chemosynthesis. c. photoautotrophy. d. evolution.
b. chemosynthesis.
One toxic substance found in pesticides, industrial solvents, and cleaning fluids that has exceeded dangerous concentrations in some coastal areas is: a. petroleum. b. chlorinated hydrocarbons. c. emulsion. d. oil.
b. chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Estuaries are categorized by: a. location or latitude. b. circulation patterns. c. the ratio of fresh water to salt water. d. sediment origins and age.
b. circulation patterns.
An example of a fishing technique that is particularly disruptive is: a. hook and line. b. drift nets. c. mid-water trawl. d. spear fishing.
b. drift nets.
A _______________ is a group of organisms linked by complex feeding relations. a. species b. food web c. trophic pyramid d. population
b. food web
One might expect to encounter all of the following organisms in an estuary EXCEPT: a. sea grasses b. hermatypic corals c. phytoplankton d. juvenile fish
b. hermatypic corals
The organisms that cannot produce their own food are called: a. primary producers. b. heterotrophs. c. secondary producers. d. autotrophs.
b. heterotrophs.
Perhaps the most difficult oceanic environments for small organisms to inhabit are: a. low-energy abyssal plains. b. high-energy sand and cobble beaches. c. low-productivity salt marshes. d. high-productivity rocky intertidal communities.
b. high-energy sand and cobble beaches.
In the gill of a fish, water and blood circulate ____, which ____ transfer efficiency. a. in the same direction; increases b. in opposite directions; increases c. in the same direction; decreases d. in opposite directions; decreases
b. in opposite directions; increases
The best fishing grounds are located: a. in the middle of the open ocean. b. in temperate waters over continental shelves. c. in tropical waters of the deep sea. d. in equatorial deep waters.
b. in temperate waters over continental shelves.
Baleen whales are: a. in the suborder Odontoceti. b. in the suborder Mysticeti. c. in the class Osteichthyes. d. are in the order Teleostei.
b. in the suborder Mysticeti.
Where, through a year, is the greatest total oceanic primary productivity? a. in the tropics b. in the temperate zones c. in the polar regions d. productivity is about equal at all latitudes
b. in the temperate zones
The function of a breakwater is to: a. divert sand away from a swimming area. b. interrupt the progress of waves to the beach. c. allow freshwater to flow readily into the ocean. d. fill in a bay or an inlet.
b. interrupt the progress of waves to the beach.
Carolus Linnaeus was one of the first persons to classify organisms into natural categories. Which system of taxonomy did he develop? a. domains b. kingdoms c. natural selection d. food webs
b. kingdoms
In the ocean as a whole, the limiting factor for primary productivity is: a. oxygen. b. light. c. carbon dioxide. d. carbohydrates.
b. light.
Primary productivity in estuaries is high because: a. light is seasonal and dim. b. nutrients are abundant. c. symbiotic autotrophs live within the tissues of estuary animals. d. nutrients are abundant and light is dim.
b. nutrients are abundant.
The movement of water across a cell membrane from an area of high concentration to low concentration is called: a. diffusion. b. osmosis. c. active transport. d. chemosynthesis.
b. osmosis.
The requirements for photosynthesis include all of these EXCEPT: a. light. b. oxygen c. nutrients. d. pigments (chlorophyll).
b. oxygen
Non-renewable physical resources that are extracted from the ocean and prized by humans include: a. a variety of seafood. b. petroleum and natural gas. c. energy from currents. d. pharmaceutical compounds.
b. petroleum and natural gas.
The organisms that are capable of converting carbon dioxide into glucose are called: a. primary consumers. b. primary producers. c. heterotrophs. d. secondary consumers.
b. primary producers.
Members of Class Chondrichtyes include: a. alligators and sharks b. rays and skates c. tuna and lampreys d. rays and hagfish
b. rays and skates
Which of the following groups of animals includes only pinnipeds? a. dolphins, whales and manatees b. seals, sea lions and walruses c. sea lions, sea cows and dugongs d. walruses, polar bears and otters
b. seals, sea lions and walruses
The large waves of late summer modify the shape of sandy beaches. Huge "bites" of beach are removed from the exposed beach and end up in offshore sand bars. These "bites" are most evident in the form of a very large and high: a. berm. b. shore face, or beach scarp. c. foreshore. d. backshore.
b. shore face, or beach scarp.
According to Darwin, the last stage in the cycle of reef formation is: a. the fringing reef. b. the atoll. c. the algal rim. d. the barrier reef.
b. the atoll.
In photosynthesis, the energy of sunlight ultimately rests in: a. carbon dioxide molecules. b. the carbon-hydrogen bonds of carbohydrates. c. oxygen molecules. d. the oxygen-hydrogen bonds of water molecules.
b. the carbon-hydrogen bonds of carbohydrates.
A major source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases results from: a. the release of gases from volcanic and geothermal processes. b. the combustion products of petroleum, coal and natural gas. c. the production of byproducts from photosynthesis. d. the transfer of gases from the ocean into the atmosphere.
b. the combustion products of petroleum, coal and natural gas.
The zone of lighted ocean where marine autotrophs are able to thrive is called: a. the disphotic zone. b. the euphotic zone. c. the aphotic zone. d. the mesopelagic zone.
b. the euphotic zone.
Oceanographers usually classify coasts by: a. the type of sand found on the beach. b. the physical processes shaping the coasts. c. the direction the coast faces. d. the latitude in which the coast resides.
b. the physical processes shaping the coasts.
A(n) ____ is a bridge of sediment that connects sea islands. a. inlet. b. tombolo. c. estuary. d. delta.
b. tombolo.
It is believed that over the past 2 million years, world sea level has: a. changed, but not significantly. b. varied from about 6 meters above to about 125 meters below present position. c. varied from about 125 meters above to about 6 meters below present position. d. not changed.
b. varied from about 6 meters above to about 125 meters below present position.
About ____ of the crude oil used by humans is derived from the seabed. a. 3/4 b. 1/2 c. 1/3 d. all
c. 1/3
Though it is difficult to generalize for the ocean as a whole, the bottom of the euphotic zone is about ____ meters (feet) in mid-latitudes. a. 20 meters (66 feet) b. 40 meters (130 feet) c. 70 meters (230 feet) d. 80 meters (265 feet)
c. 70 meters (230 feet)
Bony fish (like tuna or anchovies) are members of this group: a. Mammalia b. Chondrichthyes c. Osteichthyes d. Agnatha
c. Osteichthyes
Which of the following groups include manatees and sea cows.? a. Cetacea b. Pinnipedia c. Sirenia d. Copepoda
c. Sirenia
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning the baleen whales? a. They are marine mammals and hence are air breathers. b. Some species of baleen whales migrate long distances between their feeding and breeding grounds. c. The baleen whales are the smallest of the true whales because they only feed on plankton. d. Some species of baleen whales use complex songs to group communicate.
c. The baleen whales are the smallest of the true whales because they only feed on plankton.
Which of these statements is FALSE concerning estuaries? a. Larvae are often abundant there. b. Estuaries are in danger of development and pollution. c. Very few autotrophs live in estuaries, but many animals can be found there. d. Estuaries are places where saltwater and fresh water meet.
c. Very few autotrophs live in estuaries, but many animals can be found there.
An example of a primary producer is: a. a fish. b. a copepod. c. a diatom. d. a crab.
c. a diatom.
The present shorelines of the world are considered to be: a. geologically stable zones separating land and sea. b. features of great geological antiquity. c. a dynamic environment affected by both long-term and short-term cycles. d. that part of the marine environment most resistant to change.
c. a dynamic environment affected by both long-term and short-term cycles.
Scientists can observe primary productivity in the ocean from space by measuring the ____. a. temperature of the surface water. b. depth of the euphotic zone. c. amount of chlorophyll in surface waters. d. salinity of surface waters.
c. amount of chlorophyll in surface waters.
Ahermatypic corals are: a. found in shallow waters in the tropics. b. have symbiotic algae. c. are found in the deep-sea. d. are actually plants.
c. are found in the deep-sea.
Tropical coral reefs require all of the following conditions to thrive EXCEPT: a. clear, shallow water, preferably less than 10 meters ( 33 feet). b. cold nutrient-rich water. c. average salinity or slightly higher. d. symbiotic dinoflagellates that reside inside the animal.
c. average salinity or slightly higher.
The introduction of excess nutrients into a system that results in the increased growth of autotrophs is: a. heterotrophy. b. chemoautotrophy. c. eutrophication. d. oligotrophication.
c. eutrophication.
Many marine invertebrates are ___________ meaning that they have specialized structures they use to extract plankton out of the surrounding water. a. scavengers b. deposit feeders c. filter feeders d. chemoautotrophic
c. filter feeders
Overall, the ocean's most valuable biological resources consist of: a. compounds harvested for medical use. b. cultured kelp and algae. c. fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. d. whales.
c. fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Organisms common in the rocky intertidal include all of the following EXCEPT: a. benthic multicellular algae. b. snails. c. flat fish. d. small sculpins.
c. flat fish.
If a beach is wide, gently sloping with fine sands, we would expect to see: a. very heavy wave action. b. a beach facing into Arctic storms. c. generally small waves winter and summer. d. high-energy waves all year around.
c. generally small waves winter and summer.
Steep, narrow, rocky beaches are usually found in areas of: a. summer beach conditions. b. wave deposition. c. high wave energy. d. small inlets and bays.
c. high wave energy.
Organisms such as diatoms or copepods that spend their entire life cycle as plankton are called: a. nanoplankton. b. meroplankton. c. holoplankton. d. zooplankton.
c. holoplankton.
Seaweeds are: a. vascular plants. b. unicellular algae. c. muticellular algae. d. zooxanthellae.
c. muticellular algae.
The main inorganic nutrients required in primary productivity include: a. carbon dioxide and carbohydrates. b. glucose and oxygen. c. nitrates and phosphates. d. nitrates and carbohydrates.
c. nitrates and phosphates.
What accounts for most of the total value of world trade transported by sea? a. passengers b. finished goods c. oil d. grain
c. oil
One major concern about climate change is that: a. crop production will increase. b. solubility of oxygen will increase as ocean temperatures rise. c. phytoplankton productivity will decrease. d. the ocean will freeze.
c. phytoplankton productivity will decrease.
Human activities that have contributed to shoreline erosion include: a. seasonal traffic at beaches during the summer months b. depositional processes c. placement of seawalls along the shoreline d. excess fishing and boating activities
c. placement of seawalls along the shoreline
The whale shark is the largest species of fish and eats: a. seals and other smaller marine mammals. b. fish, especially tuna. c. plankton near the surface of the water. d. benthic crabs.
c. plankton near the surface of the water.
Second to petroleum and natural gas, the most profitable resource recovered from the marine environment is: a. gold. b. diamonds. c. sand and gravel. d. coal.
c. sand and gravel.
The downcoast transport mechanism for beach sand along much of the Pacific coast is called: a. the longshore current, a current that moves sand north-to-south along the coast, parallel to shore, at a great distance away from land. b. the longshore current, a current that moves sand south-to-north along the coast, parallel to shore, at a great distance away from land. c. the longshore current, a current that moves sand north-to-south along the coast, parallel to shore, close to shore. d. the longshore current, a current that moves sand south-to-north along the coast, parallel to shore, close to shore.
c. the longshore current, a current that moves sand north-to-south along the coast, parallel to shore, close to shore.
Algae are classified by: a. their method of photosynthesis. b. their location in the intertidal. c. their photosynthetic pigments. d. their size and shape.
c. their photosynthetic pigments.
Identify the statement that best describes the adaptations of "true seabirds" (that is, birds spending nearly all of their life span aloft over the ocean). a. their wings tend to be short and blunt to reduce weight during flight. b. their bodies are covered in specialized feathers that differ from other bird species. c. their wingspan is very long and their bones are hollow to minimize the energy expended in flight. d. their bodies are insulated with layers of fat to protect them from cold at high altitudes.
c. their wingspan is very long and their bones are hollow to minimize the energy expended in flight.
The fastest growing alternative energy source is: a. nuclear power. b. coal energy. c. wind power. d. oil energy.
c. wind power.
The symbiotic dinoflagellate that lives within coral tissue is called: a. kelp. b. Riftia. c. zooxanthellae. d. polyp.
c. zooxanthellae.
Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning estuaries? a. Many organisms live in estuaries. b. Estuaries are very vulnerable to pollution. c. The salinity in estuaries varies because of mixing. d. An estuary is a type of delta.
d. An estuary is a type of delta.
Each of the following is a domain EXCEPT:. a. Archaea. b. Bacteria. c. Eukarya. d. Animalia.
d. Animalia.
____ refers to organisms that live on or are associated with the bottom. a. Pelagic b. Neritic c. Planktonic d. Benthic
d. Benthic
Which of the following is NOT an Order of marine mammals? a. Cetacea b. Pinnipedia c. Sirenia d. Ecinodermata
d. Ecinodermata
The per capita world fish catch has changed in what way? a. It has been climbing steadily since the 1950s. b. It has declined drastically since the 1950s. c. It has stayed at the level of the 1960s. d. It has declined significantly since the 1970s.
d. It has declined significantly since the 1970s.
Which of these benthic habitats is NOT characterized by both high productivity and high biodiversity? a. The hydrothermal vents in the deep sea. b. Salt marshes associated with estuaries. c. Rocky intertidal communities of the US west coast. d. Sandy beaches of tropical shores.
d. Sandy beaches of tropical shores.
All of the following characteristics apply to the Cetacea EXCEPT: a. Cetaceans have nearly complete hair loss. b. They have large and deeply convoluted brains. c. The cetaceans are air-breathing mammals. d. They all have teeth in powerful jaws that make them efficient predators.
d. They all have teeth in powerful jaws that make them efficient predators.
Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the Florida Keys? a. They were formed during a time between glaciations. b. They are an example of a coral reef coast. c. They are an example of a coast formed by biological activity. d. They are relatively low and extend below sea level.
d. They are relatively low and extend below sea level.
Food in the intertidal zone is: a. not particularly abundant, so resident organisms are in constant competition for the limiting resource. b. abundant but inaccessible, so few organisms are able to inhabit the area. c. abundant and accessible, but there are few organisms adapted to feed in this environment. d. abundant and accessible, and there are many organisms that are adapted to take advantage of it.
d. abundant and accessible, and there are many organisms that are adapted to take advantage of it.
Physical conditions that contribute to the transparent waters of the tropics are: a. low salinity and warm water. b. no thermocline and abundant nutrients. c. permanent thermocline and abundant nutrients. d. an abrupt deep thermocline and lack of nutrients.
d. an abrupt deep thermocline and lack of nutrients.
Coral reef communities: a. are made up exclusively of various species of coral polyps. b. are made up of filter and suspension feeders living off the abundant plankton. c. are limited to carnivorous animals. d. are successful because they efficiently recycle nutrients
d. are successful because they efficiently recycle nutrients
A summer beach is characteristically: a. a rocky platform. b. steep and narrow. c. covered with boulders and cobbles. d. broad and covered with sand.
d. broad and covered with sand.
The gas that comprises 72% of the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is: a. methane. b. oxygen. c. nitrous oxide. d. carbon dioxide.
d. carbon dioxide.
All of the following changes in ocean conditions are expected to occur if current trends in climate change continue EXCEPT: a. increase in anoxic zones (i.e. dead zones). b. decrease in the pH of seawater. c. increase in sea surface temperatures. d. decrease in the intensity of El Nino events.
d. decrease in the intensity of El Nino events.
Drag is determined by all of the following EXCEPT: a. frontal area. b. body shape. c. surface texture. d. depth.
d. depth.
A physical challenge that high-intertidal organisms must adapt to is: a. chemosynthesis. b. zonation. c. osmotic pressure. d. desiccation.
d. desiccation.
Most marine organisms have an internal temperature very close to that of their surroundings. They are known as ____ organisms. a. poikilothermic b. endothermic c. homeothermic d. ectothermic
d. ectothermic
Animals that generate and regulate metabolic heat and maintain an internal body temperature generally higher than that of their surroundings are called: a. ectotherms. b. mesotherms. c. paratherms. d. endotherms.
d. endotherms.
The origin of sea cliffs, sea stacks, sea caves, blowholes, and arches is related to: a. longshore currents. b. high tides. c. human activities. d. erosion by waves.
d. erosion by waves.
The variation in sea level that can be measured over the world ocean is called: a. erosional change. b. tectonic change. c. dynamic change. d. eustatic change.
d. eustatic change.
All of the following adaptations offset sinking in fish EXCEPT: a. swim bladders. b. counter current flow in gills. c. fat-filled bladders. d. fins shaped like airplane wings.
d. fins shaped like airplane wings.
Which of the following groups of organisms includes only true marine vascular plants? a. rhodophytes, chlorophytes and phaeophytes. b. diatoms, dinoflagellates and coccolithophores. c. kelp forests and seagrasses. d. mangroves and salt marshes.
d. mangroves and salt marshes.
The farming specifically of marine organisms for human use is called: a. nonextractive resource harvesting. b. fish farming. c. aquaculture. d. mariculture.
d. mariculture.
An example of a nutrient that is important for primary productivity is: a. calcium. b. silica. c. oxygen. d. nitrogen.
d. nitrogen.
Greenhouse gases include all of the following EXCEPT: a. chlorofluorocarbons. b. methane. c. carbon dioxide. d. oxygen.
d. oxygen.
Single-celled plant-like organisms are called: a. plankton b. meroplankton c. holoplankton d. phytoplankton
d. phytoplankton
In the nutrient-poor water of the tropics, specialized dinoflagellates aid coral's success by: a. providing carbon dioxide and phosphates for coral. b. providing a safe and stable environment for coral. c. causing coral bleaching. d. providing oxygen, carbohydrates, and absorbing waste products.
d. providing oxygen, carbohydrates, and absorbing waste products.
The desalination method that is done by forcing seawater against a semi permeable membrane at high pressure is called: a. high pressure desalination. b. distillation. c. freezing. d. reverse osmosis desalination.
d. reverse osmosis desalination.
Most of the minerals found in the sand of continental beaches are supplied by: a. erosion of local coastal cliffs. b. currents from the deep ocean floor. c. glacial processes. d. rivers and streams.
d. rivers and streams.
A problem facing many beaches along the U.S. east and west coasts is: a. excess sand being deposited around seaside installations. b. the rapid growth of deltas at the mouths of rivers. c. the development of barrier beaches across harbors. d. the loss of sand and the erosion of beaches.
d. the loss of sand and the erosion of beaches.
Solution, abrasion, and hydraulic action are factors involved in: a. wave deposition. b. moving longshore currents. c. causing wave refraction. d. wave erosion.
d. wave erosion.
The energy that drives the longshore currents is derived from: a. hurricanes and cyclones. b. major surface currents, such as the Gulf Stream. c. monthly high tides. d. wind waves approaching the beach front at an angle.
d. wind waves approaching the beach front at an angle.
A longshore bar is a vertical wall of sand delineating the low-tide mark.
false
Barrier islands were once part of the mainland when sea levels were lower.
false
Coccolithophores are zooplankton that form oozes on the seabed.
false
Deep sea vent communities depend on specialized photoautotrophs that extract the exceedingly dim light that filters down to that depth.
false
Desiccation refers to the constant inundation of sub-tidal rocky reefs.
false
Drift nets were developed in response to demands that fishing nets take only target species, and that fishing ought to be more environmentally sensitive.
false
Fishing is a growth industry, but the fishing consortia are, for the most part, careful to conserve this resource and not to exceed the maximum sustainable yield.
false
Generally speaking, a spill of crude oil is more dangerous to marine life than a spill of refined oil.
false
Gill membranes evolved from lungs and function in gas exchange.
false
Global warning by "greenhouse gases" would not have happened if humans had never generated excess carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, and other gases with similar effects on the atmosphere.
false
Huge wings allow the albatross to fly great distances but also require a tremendous amount of energy.
false
In terms of the volume of oil spilled and subsequent environmental damage, the wreck of the tanker Exxon Valdez was the worst tanker accident in history.
false
Kelp forests are most common in tropical latitudes.
false
Life is categorized into two domains: one for all the prokaryotic organisms and one for all the eukaryotic organisms.
false
Marine erosion is most rapid on low-energy coasts.
false
Marine organisms are limited in terms of where in the ocean they can live because of the enormous amount of pressure in the deep sea.
false
Nitrogen and phosphorous can be depleted rapidly in the deep sea by photosynthetic organisms.
false
Over time, the amount of water in the world ocean has remained constant.
false
Penguins are found world-wide and although they cannot fly, they can swim great distances.
false
The active swimmers of the pelagic realm are called the zooplankton.
false
The aphotic zone is the upper layer of the ocean where there is enough light for photosynthesis and vision.
false
The biomass of benthic algae in the ocean is greater than the biomass of phytoplankton.
false
Though desalination is a theoretically attractive method for obtaining fresh water from seawater, no large commercial facilities for desalination exist.
false
Whaling has effectively ceased. Except for a small and relatively insignificant number of "pirate whalers," the taking of whales for profit is a thing of the past
false
The Florida Keys is an example of how living organisms such as corals can influence coastlines.
true
The distribution of phytoplankton in the ocean is directly influenced by the distribution of nutrients.
true
The scientific name of an organism includes the genus and species name.
true
Zooplankton are the most numerous primary consumers in the ocean.
true
A tuna is an example of a top consumer.
true
An important part of Darwinian natural selection is that traits must be inheritable.
true
Asteroids hitting Earth may result in mass extinctions.
true
Both land erosion and sea-level changes can shape a coastline.
true
Deltas form at the mouths of sediment-laden rivers and where continental shelves are broad.
true
Depositional coasts are growing because of sediment accumulation or the action of living organisms.
true
Estuaries are nutrient rich environments that foster very high biodiversity.
true
Eustatic changes are variations in sea level that can be measured all over the world ocean.
true
Hermatypic corals are corals that build reefs in tropical areas.
true
Hydrogen sulfide is a high-energy molecule that can be used to make carbohydrates through the process of chemosynthesis.
true
Hydrothermal vents that support biological communities exist because of primary productivity in the form of chemosynthesis.
true
Interstitial animals are very small and live between sand grains.
true
Marine algae are nonvascular plants.
true
Most synthetic pollutants resist attack by water, air, sunlight, and living organisms because the compounds of which they are composed resemble nothing in nature.
true
One mechanism by which sediments are transported in the surf zone is via longshore currents.
true
Pelagic organisms live in the open ocean.
true
Photosynthetic plankton are called phytoplankton and include the diatoms and dinoflagellates.
true
Pollutants can have negative influences on organisms by interfering with biochemical processes.
true
Primary productivity measures the grams of carbon bound into organic material per square meter of ocean surface area per year.
true
Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone.
true
Sometimes, the best thing to do in the event of a crude oil spill is to do nothing.
true
Species diversity is generally higher on the seafloor than in that part of the water column immediately above it.
true