Deck 13: Biological Productivity and Energy Transfer

Question 1

Compensation depth is the depth in the ocean where the photosynthetic rate exceeds the rate of cellular respiration.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations have no impact on primary productivity rates in marine ecosystems.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Match the term or phrase with its best descriptor. Use each answer once, more than once, or not at all.

A)catch limit
B)dolphins and other mammal protection
C)farming of commercial fish and shellfish
D)catch size that reduces the population of target species
E)incidental catch
F)turtle exclusion devices (TEDs)
G)maximum catch without reducing the population of target species
H)available biomass of a target species
maximum sustainable yield

Answer 3

G

Question 4

Match the organism or definition with the correct description of its food preference. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)detritivore
C)herbivore
D)autotroph
E)omnivore
F)carnivore
diatom

Question 5

An overabundance of organic matter results in eutrophication.

Question 6

Match the term or phrase with its best descriptor. Use each answer once, more than once, or not at all.

A)catch limit
B)dolphins and other mammal protection
C)farming of commercial fish and shellfish
D)catch size that reduces the population of target species
E)incidental catch
F)turtle exclusion devices (TEDs)
G)maximum catch without reducing the population of target species
H)available biomass of a target species
aquaculture

Question 7

Match the organism with its correct descriptor of energy use or trophic level. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)consumer
C)producer
Sargassum

Question 8

Match the term or phrase with its best descriptor. Use each answer once, more than once, or not at all.

A)catch limit
B)dolphins and other mammal protection
C)farming of commercial fish and shellfish
D)catch size that reduces the population of target species
E)incidental catch
F)turtle exclusion devices (TEDs)
G)maximum catch without reducing the population of target species
H)available biomass of a target species
standing stock

Question 9

Match the organism or definition with the correct description of its food preference. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)detritivore
C)herbivore
D)autotroph
E)omnivore
F)carnivore
anchovy

Question 10

The products of photosynthesis are carbon dioxide (CO₂)and water (H₂O).

Question 11

Match the organism with its correct descriptor of energy use or trophic level. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)consumer
C)producer
kelp

Question 12

Match the organism with its correct descriptor of energy use or trophic level. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)consumer
C)producer
flounder

Question 13

Match the organism with its correct descriptor of energy use or trophic level. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)consumer
C)producer
algae

Question 14

Tropical open ocean waters have the highest rate of primary productivity in the world's oceans.

Question 15

Match the organism or definition with the correct description of its food preference. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)detritivore
C)herbivore
D)autotroph
E)omnivore
F)carnivore
an organism that feeds on plants or animals

Question 16

Match the term or phrase with its best descriptor. Use each answer once, more than once, or not at all.

A)catch limit
B)dolphins and other mammal protection
C)farming of commercial fish and shellfish
D)catch size that reduces the population of target species
E)incidental catch
F)turtle exclusion devices (TEDs)
G)maximum catch without reducing the population of target species
H)available biomass of a target species
by-catch

Question 17

Match the organism with its correct descriptor of energy use or trophic level. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)consumer
C)producer
sand star (or starfish)

Question 18

Match the organism or definition with the correct description of its food preference. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)detritivore
C)herbivore
D)autotroph
E)omnivore
F)carnivore
dolphin

Question 19

Match the organism or definition with the correct description of its food preference. Use each choice once, more than once, or not at all.

A)decomposer
B)detritivore
C)herbivore
D)autotroph
E)omnivore
F)carnivore
sand star (Astropecten)

Question 20

Match the term or phrase with its best descriptor. Use each answer once, more than once, or not at all.

A)catch limit
B)dolphins and other mammal protection
C)farming of commercial fish and shellfish
D)catch size that reduces the population of target species
E)incidental catch
F)turtle exclusion devices (TEDs)
G)maximum catch without reducing the population of target species
H)available biomass of a target species
Marine Mammal Protection Act

Question 21

Most marine algae are limited to depths shallower than 100 meters; however, some red algae have been observed growing at depths of over 250 meters.

Question 22

If the total caloric content of the autotrophic organisms in a marine ecosystem were 250,000 kilocalories (kcal), then the expected caloric value for the trophic-level consumers at the second level would be 2,500 kcal.

Question 23

The process by which energy is derived from solar radiation that is used by certain organisms to form organic matter is called:

A)photosynthesis.
B)chemosynthesis.
C)upwelling.
D)visible light.
E)biomass.

Question 24

In general, the rate at which energy is stored by organisms through the formation of organic matter is called:

A)biomass.
B)chlorophyll.
C)compensation depth.
D)primary productivity.
E)upwelling.

Question 25

Many fish stocks are characterized as overfished on a worldwide basis.

Question 26

The standing stock of a population is the maximum number or biomass of individuals that can be removed sustainably.

Question 27

The nutrients that tend to limit photosynthesis in marine environments include:

A)carbon dioxide.
B)nitrogen.
C)phosphorus.
D)A and B are correct.
E)B and C are correct.

Question 28

Diatoms are classified as members of the Division Chlorophyta.

Question 29

Bacteria that manufacture carbohydrates in the absence of solar energy are autotrophs.

Question 30

Equatorial upwelling decreases primary productivity in tropical waters.

Question 31

The depth at which the cellular respiration rate equals the photosynthetic rate is referred to as the:

A)calcium compensation depth.
B)epipelagic depth.
C)euphotic zone.
D)compensation depth.
E)productive zone.

Question 32

Consumers, producers, and decomposers are all examples of trophic levels within a food chain or food web.

Question 33

Primary productivity in temperate marine systems is limited solely by the amount of available solar radiation.

Question 34

The amount of carbon dioxide concentrations and available nutrients affect the rate of primary production in an ecosystem.

Question 35

Energy flow in photosynthetic marine ecosystems is unidirectional in contrast to nutrients, which cycle through ecosystems.

Question 36

Marine algae that grow close to the limits of light penetration have accessory photosynthetic pigments that absorb high energy, short-wavelength light in the blue region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Question 37

Net primary productivity can be estimated as the amount of photosynthesis plus the amount of respiration.

Question 38

The group of marine macroscopic algae with the highest abundance and greatest geographic distribution belong to the Division Rhodophyta.

Question 39

In primary production:

A)carbon dioxide is released into the water.
B)oxygen is utilized by plants.
C)oxygen utilized by animals is less than the oxygen consumed by autotrophs.
D)proteins are made by animals.
E)there is a net gain in organic carbon by organisms.

Question 40

The distinction between a food chain and a food web is that a food chain describes a linear relationship among trophic levels whereas a food web describes the interconnected relationships among trophic structures in nature.

Question 41

The most abundant marine macroscopic algae are members of the Division:

A)Bacillariophyta.
B)Chlorophyta.
C)Chrysophyta.
D)Phaeophyta.
E)Rhodophyta.

Question 42

Productivity in polar oceans is:

A)light-limited.
B)nutrient-limited.
C)oxygen-limited.
D)light and nutrient-limited.
E)nutrient and oxygen-limited.

Question 43

The percentage of biomass regularly decomposed within the euphotic zone is about:

A)1%.
B)10%.
C)30%.
D)50%.
E)90%.

Question 44

Nutrient flow in an ecosystem is:

A)bi-directional.
B)cyclical.
C)semi-conservative.
D)top down.
E)unidirectional.

Question 45

The efficiency of trophic transfers in ecosystems is on average around:

A)75%.
B)50%.
C)30%.
D)10%.
E)5%.

Question 46

The area of the ocean that produces the largest standing stock of commercial fish is in the:

A)coastal areas.
B)bathypelagic zone.
C)mesopelagic zone.
D)tropical areas.
E)upwelling areas.

Question 47

Many of the organisms responsible for toxic red tides and paralytic shellfish poisoning belong to the Division:

A)Bacillariophyta.
B)Chlorophyta.
C)Phaeophyta.
D)Pyrrophyta.
E)Rhodophyta.

Question 48

The percentage of euphotic zone biomass that reaches the deep ocean floor is approximately:

A)1%.
B)10%.
C)30%.
D)50%.
E)90%.

Question 49

Although primary productivity in tropical areas is generally low, which of the following tropical locations have unusually high primary productivity rates?

A)equatorial upwelling zones
B)coastal upwelling zones
C)coral reefs
D)dead zones
E)All of the above tropical areas have relatively high primary productivity.

Question 50

Important marine autotrophs that have silica incorporated into their cell walls are:

A)coccolithophorids.
B)cyanobacteria.
C)diatoms.
D)dinoflagellates.
E)radiolarians.

Question 51

In temperate oceans of the northern hemisphere during the summer months:

A)nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is low, and dissolved oxygen decreases.
B)nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is high, and dissolved oxygen decreases.
C)nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is high, and dissolved oxygen increases.
D)nutrient concentrations are low, solar input is high, and dissolved oxygen decreases.
E)nutrient concentrations are low, solar input is high, and dissolved oxygen increases.

Question 52

If 10,000 kilocalories (kcal)of energy were contained in the primary producers (trophic level 1), on average how many kcal of energy would you expect to be transferred to second-order consumers (trophic level 3)?

A)10,000 kcal
B)1,000 kcal
C)100 kcal
D)10 kcal
E)1 kcal

Question 53

Productivity in tropical oceans is generally:

A)light-limited.
B)nutrient-limited.
C)oxygen-limited.
D)light and nutrient-limited.
E)nutrient and oxygen-limited.

Question 54

Marine seed-bearing plants include all of the following except:

A)eelgrass.
B)mangroves.
C)Spartina alterniflora.
D)surf grass.
E)Ulva.

Question 55

In temperate oceans of the northern hemisphere during the winter months:

A)nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is low, and water temperatures decrease.
B)nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is high, and water temperatures decrease.
C)nutrient concentrations are high, solar input is high, and water temperatures increase.
D)nutrient concentrations are low, solar input is high, and water temperatures decrease.
E)nutrient concentrations are low, solar input is low, and water temperatures decrease.

Question 56

The relative productivity in the world's oceans from most productive to least productive is:

A)polar waters, temperate waters, tropical waters.
B)polar waters, tropical waters, temperate waters.
C)temperate waters, polar waters, tropical waters.
D)temperate waters, tropical waters, polar waters.
E)tropical waters, temperate waters, polar waters.

Question 57

Energy flow in an ecosystem is:

A)bi-directional.
B)cyclic.
C)semi-conservative.
D)top down.
E)unidirectional.

Question 58

Overproduction of organic matter resulting in anoxic conditions is attributed to:

A)autotrophication.
B)eutrophication.
C)net primary productivity.
D)photoperiodicity.
E)phototropism.

Question 59

Diatoms, important producers in the epipelagic open ocean, are members of the Division:

A)Angiospermae.
B)Chrysophyta.
C)Chlorophyta.
D)Haptophyta.
E)Pyrrophyta.

Question 60

The mass of a population of fish present at a given time is called its:

A)diversity.
B)fish stock.
C)maximum sustainable yield.
D)recruitment mass.
E)standing stock.

Question 61

Briefly describe the feeding strategies employed by marine organisms including suspension feeding (filter feeding), deposit feeding, and carnivorous feeding.

Question 62

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. Avicennia (black mangrove)
B) Rhizophora (red mangrove)
C) Sargassum (Gulf weed)
D) Spartina (marsh grass)
E) Zostera (eelgrass)

Question 63

All of the following are challenges to managing fisheries except:

A)overfishing.
B)incident catch or bycatch.
C)multinational boundaries.
D)regulations on the number of fishing vessels.
E)All of the above are correct.

Question 64

List the major taxonomic groups of marine primary producers and give an example of each.

Question 65

The term bycatch or incidental catch refers to:

A)krill and other shellfish.
B)non-target species that are caught along with commercial species.
C)species caught as part of traditional fisheries.
D)species harvested for industrial purposes.
E)species raised in aquaculture settings.

Question 66

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. lower rates of photosynthesis
B) high light levels
C) increased nitrogen concentration
D) increased phosphorus concentration
E) upwelling

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. bacteriovores
B) carnivores
C) decomposers
D) biogeochemical cycle
E) herbivores

Question 68

Tropical oceans are generally characterized by low net primary productivity. What are three environments that are exceptions to this and what factors contribute to their higher productivity?

Question 69

Catches above the maximum sustainable yield:

A)can be increased to prevent overfishing.
B)produce decreased fishing effort.
C)result in increased populations of the target species.
D)result in overfishing.
E)result in underutilization of the target species.

Question 70

The maximum sustainable yield (MSY)is best defined as:

A)annual harvest that will balance natural mortality and predation.
B)largest catch that can be taken without overfishing.
C)largest catch that will cover the minimum cost of fishing.
D)maximum fishing effort allowed after overfishing occurs.
E)minimum catch that will still allow the population to increase.

Question 71

Distinguish between eutrophic and oligotrophic oceans. Where would you expect to find eutrophic areas in the ocean? Oligotrophic areas?

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. Anthophyta
B) Chlorophyta
C) Chrysophyta
D) Phaeophyta
E) Pyrrophyta

Question 73

Why are upwelling zones generally more productive than coastal oceans?

Question 74

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. autotrophic
B) carnivorous feeding
C) deposit feeding
D) filter feeding
E) suspension feeding

Question 75

Why do algal blooms frequently occur during spring and fall in temperate oceans?

Question 76

How can overfishing of target species lead to significant changes in marine ecosystems?

Question 77

Discuss the formation of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone. Why does this area form in the warmer months of the year?