OCE Chapter 11
The pollutant responsible for major declines in the populations of pelicans, ospreys, and other marine birds was __________. PCBs sewage sludge plastics mercury DDT
DDT
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. Support proposals that ban or regulate the use or sale of single-use plastics and their improper disposal at sea. Dispose of plastics properly and recycle when possible. Skim the ocean surface water for floating trash. People can reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
Educate people so they understand the impacts of their choices on the environment. Support proposals that ban or regulate the use or sale of single-use plastics and their improper disposal at sea. Dispose of plastics properly and recycle when possible. People can reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.
Which of the following properties of plastic make it unusually persistent and damaging? Which of the following properties of plastic make it unusually persistent and damaging? It is durable. It is inexpensive. It is strong. It is biodegradable. It is lightweight.
It is durable. It is inexpensive. It is strong. It is lightweight.
Of the following statements, which is/are included in the World Health Organization's definition of marine pollution? Marine pollution is human-made. Marine pollution is aesthetically displeasing (an eyesore). Marine pollution is harmful to human health only. Marine pollution can be a natural occurrence. Marine pollution results in or is likely to result in harmful effects to marine life. Marine pollution can be a substance or a form of energy.
Marine pollution is human-made. Marine pollution results in or is likely to result in harmful effects to marine life. 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? Microbeads bind chemical pollutants like PCBs and DDTs. 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. Plastics photodegrade into smaller fragments, ultimately becoming microplastics. Accumulating plastic debris acts as an artificial habitat for marine life in the open ocean.
Microbeads bind chemical pollutants like PCBs and DDTs. 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. Plastics photodegrade into smaller fragments, ultimately becoming microplastics.
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. Pressure wash the coastline with super hot water. Introduce chemical dispersants to break up the spill.
Skim floating oil off the surface immediately after the spill. Introduce microbes to begin the process of bioremediation.
Of the following statements about ocean ownership and the Law of the Sea, which is/are true? The Law of the Sea Treaty, which establishes the rights of nations in ocean ownership, was ratified by the required 60th nation in 1993. Many areas of the deep ocean can be purchased from the United Nations in a sealed bidding process. 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. Forty-two percent of the world's oceans are under the control of coastal nations. Offshore areas have very little to offer in the way of resources, so ownership here is not an issue. 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. 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. Forty-two percent of the world's oceans are under the control of coastal nations. Coastal nations own the resources of the area 200 nautical miles from their shoreline, which is called the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Which of the following correctly describes the impacts of known biological pollutants? The seaweed Caulerpa has smothered ecosystems where it was introduced. Zebra mussels have outcompeted native mussels in the Great Lakes region. Fungi that are introduced into an oil spill biodegrade the petroleum. Large predatory fish have bioaccumulated high levels of mercury. 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. The Atlantic comb jelly has damaged fisheries in the Black Sea.
Which two single-use items are the most common types of marine debris found during beach cleanups? Food wrappers and plastic utensils Plastic bags and cans Straws and plastic bags Cigarette filters and food wrappers Cigarette filters and plastic bags
cigarette filters and plastic bags
Which of the following marine pollutants are biodegradable? crude oil microplastics DDTs mercury petroleum the seaweed Caulerpa
crude oil, petroleum, the seaweed Caulerpa
Under the protection of the Law of the Sea treaty, a coastal nation has the right to _____________. exploit deep-ocean minerals at will in international waters catch fishery species within the boundaries of a neighboring nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). extract oil at will within the jurisdiction of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) mine the continental shelf of a nation that has not ratified the Law of the Sea restrict the passage of vessels through a territorial sea
extract oil at will within the jurisdiction of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The biggest concern with biological pollutants is that they often ____________. ingest significant quantities of microplastics and contaminate the food web become entangled in strong, durable plastic debris lack predators and other natural controls biodegrade rapidly, causing unsightly conditions and unpleasant smells reduce the incidence of disease and parasitism in native species
lack predators and other natural controls
Which of the following marine pollutants will bioaccumulate or biomagnify in the food web? mercury nurdles DDTs microplastics PCBs
mercury, DDTs, PCBs
What form of chemical pollution results in neurological damage that can range from blindness to brain damage to paralysis and even death? Fertilizers methylmercury DDT sewage sludge pharmaceuticals
methylmercury
All types of pollution are harmful, but ________ is among the least damaging forms. nurdles PCBs methylmercury microplastics oil
oil
According to the World Health Organization definition of marine pollutants, __________ is NOT a pollutant. mercury from the burning of coal oil from the tanks of ships oil from offshore seeps DDT plastic
oil from offshore seeps
The greatest amount of oil pollution in the ocean from human sources is from __________. petroleum transportation pipelines offshore drilling and production petroleum consumption natural seeps
petroleum consumption
An example of non-point source pollution is ___________. plastic debris washed down storm drains sewage sludge transported to a disposal site oil leaking from an undersea drilling site petroleum seeping naturally from the sea floor mercury discharged as waste by chemical plants
plastic debris washed down storm drains
The international Law of the Sea treaty __________. establishes an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that extends 12 nautical miles seaward from the coast of each maritime nation allows nations to prohibit the transit of unfriendly warships through straits adjacent to their shorelines regulates the dumping of waste in international waters provides for arbitration of disputes puts no restrictions on the mining of seabed minerals in areas of the ocean beyond any nation's exclusive economic zone
provides for arbitration disputes
The following are all examples of nonpoint source pollutants in the ocean EXCEPT ___________. fertilizer sewage sludge road oil pesticides nurdles
sewage sludge
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. They will result in an increase in the bloom because their waste acts as additional fertilizer for the algae. They cannot survive in a foreign environment, resulting in the unnecessary loss of life and a waste of money. They promote the development of a dead zones by reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen. They bioaccumulate toxins from the environment making them unsuitable to eat.
they have no natural predators and can dramatically alter the ecosystem
Biomagnification of toxic substances means that __________. larger organisms are not affected by the toxic substances, but they suffer stress when their prey such as plankton are killed off toxic substances become increasingly concentrated in the tissues of organisms in each higher level of the food web the presence of a toxic substance strengthens the immune systems of organisms higher in the food web molecules of the toxic compounds grow larger and form crystals after they accumulate in the tissues of marine animals organisms higher in the food web are more sensitive to a given concentration of toxic substances within their tissues
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 ________. mussels, because they concentrate pharmaceutical hormones released in human waste water sardines, because they bioaccumulate high levels of DDT shrimp, because they contain elevated levels of carcinogenic PCBs cod, because it was caught in a region where mercury-contaminated sewage sludge is dumped tuna, because biomagnification results in high levels of methylmercury
tuna, because biomagnification results in high levels of methylmercury
What is the greatest anthropogenic source of petroleum pollution to the ocean? The Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural oil seeps Transport and distribution of oil in tanker ships Urban runoff and individual vehicle owners Extraction of petroleum from the sea floor
urban runoff and individual vehicle owners
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? sulfuric acid seeping into marine waters from a volcanic vent area warmer-than-normal water created by outflow from a coastal power plant biodegradable food items dumped overboard from a cruise ship raw sewage released onto the floor of the deep ocean a natural oil seep on the ocean floor that is discharging oil directly into the ocean sound from cargo ships traversing the ocean
warmer-than-normal water created by outflow from a coastal power plant biodegradable food items dumped overboard from a cruise ship raw sewage released onto the floor of the deep ocean sound from cargo ships traversing the ocean
