Oceanography Final exam
Seaweeds are of great interest to marine biologists, but have no commercial value
false.
All other factors being equal, a greater quantity of dissolved gas can be held in solution in warm seawater than in cold seawater
false.
Which of the following best states the evolutionary theory?
Evolution is the maintenance of life under changing conditions.
"Success" in biology means
Number of living offspring
Which of these factors was not present in large quantities on Earth's surface at the time of the origin of life here?
free atmospheric oxygen.
A physical or biological necessity whose presence in inappropriate amounts limits the normal action of an organism is called a(n)
limiting factor
The open ocean realm, away from land
oceanic
Diffusion of water through a biological membrane is called
osmosis
The open ocean environment (up in the water column), in general.
pelagic
When a phytoplankter remains below its compensation depth, it:
will eventually die.
When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, the water becomes slightly more
acidic, its pH is lower.
The movement of a substance through a biological membrane from a region of low concentration to a region of higher concentration is called
active transport.
Refers to the bottom, in general.
benthic
"Fixation" means
binding an atom into a larger molecule.
Cut through by tiny pores that permit contact of membranes with seawater.
diatom
Of the two plant-like organisms listed, this one has the deeper average compensation depth.
diatom
The more efficient photosynthesizer of the two plants listed.
diatom
These sometimes use a small droplet of oil for flotation.
diatom
Two valves, or shells, of glass-like substance.
diatom
Flexible outer covering.
dinoflagellate
HABs or "red tides" are usually caused by these.
dinoflagellate
A good "working definition" for life might be: "A highly organized system that can capture, transform, store, and transmit ______________."
energy
In order to survive, every organism must have a continuous external source of:
energy
A natural system of classification for living organisms relies on an analysis of
evolutionary relationships.
An organism's metabolic rate approximately doubles with a temperature increase of 20°C.
false
The open ocean environment, over the continental shelves
neritic
Most marine organisms have an internal temperature very close to that of their surroundings. They are known as ____________ organisms.
poikilothermic (multi-blooded)
The zone of lighted ocean in which marine autotrophs tap more energy (surplus) than they use to stay alive is called:
the euphotic zone
Most biologists and geologists now think life began on Earth about
3.5 - 4 billion years ago.
Though it is difficult to generalize for the ocean as a whole, the bottom of the euphotic zone is typically __________ meters (feet) in mid-latitudes.
70 meters (230 feet)
By using the word "commonality" to describe one of the basic attributes of life, we mean:
All life shares certain basic underlying mechanisms within each individual.
The inventor of the system of biological nomenclature we use today was
Carolus Linnaeus
The life that first formed on Earth was in the forms of complex cells and multicellular organisms such as we see around us today
False
A population of fish in an enclosed lagoon was threatened with overpopulation and a stressed food supply until a number of predators discovered the population. After a time, there were fewer fish, but the average swimming speed of the population of fish had increased. This is a good illustration of
Natural selection.
The compensation depth for zooplankton is ________________ that for phytoplankton
[The question is meaningless.]
Isolation of varieties resulting in the formation of a new species can involve differences in
all of the above
Scientific names are
all of the above.
Speciation (origination of new species) nearly always requires some form of
all of the above.
Which of the following is never part of the carbon cycle?
all of the items listed above are part of the carbon cycle.
Propelled by twin whip-like projections.
dinoflagellate
Some species are brightly bioluminescent
dinoflagellate
The more primitive of the two (evolved first).
dinoflagellate
A marine animal placed in fresh water would be __________________in its environment.
hypertonic
Part of the organism's life cycle is spent as a member of the plankton community.
meroplankton
The two main inorganic nutrients necessary for the success of marine autotrophs are
nitrates and phosphates.
Mass extinctions are
relatively rare - perhaps 6 great extinctions have occurred since the origin of life on Earth - roughly every 250 million years or so.
The classical definition of species depends ultimately on
reproductive isolation from other species
A single species is segregated from all other kinds of living things by
reproductive isolation.
The Gaia hypothesis, suggested in 1979 by James Lovelock, suggests that life influences the physical environment of Earth, possibly by intentional control
true
Smallest drifting organisms.
ultraplankton
