Deck 12: Marine Life and the Marine Environment

Question 1

Match the description of the marine organism's lifestyle with the correct term. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)meroplankton
B)picoplankton
C)nekton
D)infauna
E)holoplankton
F)nanoplankton
G)epifauna
lives in benthic sediments

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
mesopelagic

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
subtidal

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The lowest and most specific level in Linnaeus' classification scheme is the family.

Question 5

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
hadal

Question 6

The majority of marine species are associated with the pelagic environment.

Question 7

Match the description of the marine organism's lifestyle with the correct term. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)meroplankton
B)picoplankton
C)nekton
D)infauna
E)holoplankton
F)nanoplankton
G)epifauna
lives on top of benthic sediments

Question 8

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
epipelagic

Question 9

Meroplankton are organisms that spend the larval phase of their life cycle associated with the ocean bottom (benthos)and the adult phase of the life cycle as plankton.

Question 10

Match the description of the marine organism's lifestyle with the correct term. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)meroplankton
B)picoplankton
C)nekton
D)infauna
E)holoplankton
F)nanoplankton
G)epifauna
floats for a portion of its life

Question 11

Plankton includes all organisms such as bacteria, algae, and animals that actively swim independently of ocean currents.

Question 12

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
littoral

Question 13

Match the description of the marine organism's lifestyle with the correct term. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)meroplankton
B)picoplankton
C)nekton
D)infauna
E)holoplankton
F)nanoplankton
G)epifauna
swims for its entire life

Question 14

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
abyssal

Question 15

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
abyssopelagic

Question 16

Match the description of the marine organism's lifestyle with the correct term. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)meroplankton
B)picoplankton
C)nekton
D)infauna
E)holoplankton
F)nanoplankton
G)epifauna
can never swim against a current

Question 17

Phytoplankton are small in size as a result of predation pressure.

Question 18

The science of classifying and naming organisms is called taxonomy.

Question 19

Epifaunal organisms live deep within benthic sediments.

Question 20

Match the marine zone with its correct location. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)neritic
B)benthic
C)pelagic, neritic
D)pelagic
bathyal

Question 21

Which of the following word pairs correctly link a descriptor with the way in which the organism lives in the ocean?

A)benthos-drift
B)benthos-swim
C)nekton-bottom-dwelling
D)nekton-swim
E)plankton-bottom-dwelling

Question 22

Species diversity and total biomass are greater in warm-water marine environments in comparison to cold-water marine environments.

Question 23

Tropical marine organisms tend to grow more slowly, live longer, and are smaller in general than their cold-water counterparts.

Question 24

A euryhaline organism would be poorly adapted to living in coastal environments.

Question 25

Cold, high-viscosity water benefits floating organisms more than warmer, low-viscosity water.

Question 26

Which of the following associations is incorrect?

A)Kingdom Animalia-dolphins
B)Kingdom Fungi-mushrooms
C)Kingdom Monera-bacteria in hydrothermal vents
D)Kingdom Plantae-algae
E)Kingdom Protista-phytoplankton

Question 27

The deep scattering layer is produced by masses of migrating phytoplankton.

Question 28

Stenothermal organisms are likely to be found in deep open-ocean water.

Question 29

The oxygen minimum layer is found in the bathypelagic zone.

Question 30

Nekton are restricted to particular ocean areas by:

A)availability of food.
B)differences in water pressure with depth.
C)changes in salinity.
D)temperature variations with latitude and depth.
E)All of the above conditions may restrict the distribution of nekton.

Question 31

The euphotic zone is contained entirely in the mesopelagic zone.

Question 32

One reason that polar climates support a higher biomass is that colder water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warmer water.

Question 33

The hadal zone is associated with deep-ocean trenches.

Question 34

Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that range in complexity from simple sponges to complex vertebrates belong to the kingdom:

A)Animalia.
B)Fungi.
C)Monera.
D)Plantae.
E)Protoctista.

Question 35

Planktonic organisms that spend part of their life in planktonic form, and the rest of their life as either benthos or nekton are called:

A)bacterioplankton.
B)holoplankton.
C)macroplankton.
D)meroplankton.
E)zooplankton.

Question 36

An example of an organism that might be part of the infauna is a/an:

A)bull kelp.
B)crinoid.
C)lug worm.
D)shark.
E)tuna.

Question 37

Which of the following statements concerning bacteria is false?

A)Bacteria can be found living in extreme environments (heat, salinity, cold, etc.).
B)Bacteria have a cell membrane and a cell wall.
C)Bacteria lack membrane-bound organelles and a distinct nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane.
D)Bacteria reproduce asexually only.
E)Bacteria were the first type of cells to evolve on earth.

Question 38

The neritic province is associated with the continental shelf.

Question 39

Osmosis occurs when salt ions diffuse through a selectively permeable membrane with a lower ion concentration.

Question 40

Streamlining in fishes and other nektonic organisms means that the minimum amount of energy is expended to swim through the water.

Question 41

A small size is advantageous for marine organisms because it:

A)increases the ability to absorb nutrients.
B)increases the ability of wastes to diffuse out of the organism.
C)increases the surface area to volume ratio that in turn reduces frictional resistance to sinking.
D)All of the above statements are advantageous to marine organisms.
E)None of the above statements are advantageous to marine organisms.

Question 42

Compared to freshwater fishes, marine fishes:

A)drink seawater and produce a large volume of urine.
B)do not drink seawater in an effort to conserve as much water as possible.
C)produce a large volume of dilute urine in an effort to rid their bodies of excess water.
D)tend to gain water by osmosis since their internal salt concentration is higher than that of seawater.
E)tend to lose water by osmosis since their internal salt concentration is lower than that of seawater.

Question 43

The majority of marine invertebrates are:

A)adapted to life in the pelagic zone.
B)estuarine.
C)found only in benthic environments.
D)hypertonic with respect to their environment.
E)isotonic with respect to their environment.

Question 44

All of the following are adaptive solutions employed by marine organisms to prevent sinking except:

A)building a flotation mechanism such as a swim bladder.
B)decreasing density.
C)decreasing cellular fat content.
D)producing extensions that increase drag in the water.
E)increasing the surface area to volume ratio.

Question 45

With respect to their marine environment, these organisms can be referred to as:

A)benthos.
B)heterotrophs.
C)nekton.
D)plankton.
E)predators.

Question 46

When compared to their warmer water counterparts, cold-water plankton often:

A)are larger in size.
B)are smaller in size.
C)exhibit countershading.
D)have more spines and ornamentation on the cell wall.
E)reproduce asexually only.

Question 47

Most marine species are found in the:

A)bathypelagic environment.
B)benthic environment.
C)mesopelagic environment.
D)oceanic environment.
E)pelagic environment.

Question 48

The movement of a substance in solution from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration across a selectively permeable membrane in a living organism is called:

A)active transport.
B)Brownian movement.
C)diffusion.
D)osmosis.
E)passive transport.

Question 49

The seasonal temperature range in the deep ocean is usually:

A)between -2° and 32°C.
B)between 0° and 15°C.
C)between 2° and 8°C.
D)between 8° and 25°C.
E)negligible.

Question 50

Planktonic organisms often have needle-like structures that:

A)are used as a defense mechanism.
B)are used as paddles to catch ocean currents.
C)increase density.
D)prevent sinking.
E)serve as a "skeleton" to support the diatom.

Question 51

Neritic marine environments would be found:

A)associated with continental shelves.
B)at mid-ocean ridges.
C)deep in the ocean basin.
D)in subduction zones.
E)within a deep-sea trench.

Question 52

High-latitude ocean water tends to support large planktonic communities because:

A)there are fewer predators that feed on plankton.
B)of the longer summer day length.
C)of higher dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentrations.
D)there is abundant light.
E)there are abundant nutrients.

Question 53

An organism that tolerates a wide range of salinities is referred to as:

A)euryhaline.
B)hypertonic.
C)hypotonic.
D)isotonic.
E)stenohaline.

Question 54

Organisms of the mesopelagic zone are characterized by:

A)bioluminescence.
B)large, sensitive eyes.
C)no eyes.
D)A and B are correct.
E)A and C are correct.

Question 55

A common body shape that streamlines an organism in the marine environment is a flattened body that:

A)has a wide, blunt front end.
B)tapers at the front end.
C)tapers at the top surface.
D)tapers at the back end.
E)tapers at the bottom surface.

Question 56

Organisms with small bodies, extremely large mouths, and sharp teeth are likely to be found in the:

A)bathypelagic zone.
B)epipelagic zone.
C)intertidal zone.
D)neritic province.
E)photic zone.

Question 57

Osmotic pressure increases as the:

A)difference in salinity decreases.
B)difference in salinity increases.
C)difference in temperature increases.
D)salinity increases.
E)temperature increases.

Question 58

Organisms that cannot withstand large changes in temperature are referred to as:

A)eurythermal.
B)euryhaline.
C)estuarine.
D)isothermal.
E)stenothermal.

Question 59

The euphotic zone is confined to the:

A)abyssopelagic zone.
B)bathypelagic zone.
C)epipelagic zone.
D)mesopelagic zone.
E)neritic province.

Question 60

The color pattern in which marine organisms are light on the bottom and dark on the top of their bodies camouflaging them against the water-air interface is:

A)countershading.
B)cryptic coloration.
C)defensive coloration.
D)disruptive coloration.
E)warning coloration.

Question 61

Compare and contrast warm and cold water marine species in terms of life span, body size, and relative abundance.

Question 62

Discuss osmotic balance in freshwater and saltwater fishes.

Question 63

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. seagrasses
B) krill
C) jellyfish
D) floating Sargassum
E) zooplankton

Question 64

Compare and contrast the ways marine organisms are classified including: by mode of nutrition, location in the marine environment where they live, and size.

Question 65

Draw and label a cross-section of the marine environment and include the following biozones: the neritic province (supralittoral, littoral, sublittoral, bathyal, abyssal, and hadal zones)and the oceanic province (epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, and abyssopelagic zones).

Question 66

Explain why the majority of marine organisms are benthic.

Question 67

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. holoplankton
B) macroplankton
C) meroplankton
D) nektoplankton
E) picoplankton

Question 68

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. Animalia
B) Archaea
C) Fungi
D) Plantae
E) Protoctista

Question 69

List the three major domains of life and the five kingdoms of organisms, along with a brief description of the fundamental criteria used in assigning organisms to these divisions.

Question 70

Discuss why marine phytoplankton are generally smaller and more ornate than their freshwater counterparts.

Question 71

Define the terms hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic and discuss their relationship to osmotic pressure.

Question 72

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. littoral
B) sublittoral
C) subneritic
D) suboceanic
E) supralittoral

Question 73

The sublittoral (subtidal)zone is the area:

A)above the highest tide.
B)below the intertidal zone on the continental shelf.
C)between the highest high tide and the lowest low tide.
D)beyond the continental shelf.
E)where demersal and pelagic organisms are found.

Question 74

Distinguish between plankton, nekton, and benthos and give an example of each.

Question 75

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A. abyssopelagic
B) bathypelagic
C) benthopelagic
D) epipelagic
E) mesopelagic