Deck 18: The Impact of Humans on the Marine Environment

Question 1

Pollution is best described as:

A)Adding substances or energy that harm the environment.
B)Changing the population growth of species.
C)The decrease in the quality of the environment as a result of natural events.
D)Substances or materials that are toxic to humans decreasing the quality of the human environment.
E)Can be broken down by bacteria.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Sludge is best defined as:

A)Raw sewage.
B)Semi-liquid material that results from sewage treatment.
C)Industrial sewage.
D)Water removed during sewage treatment.
E)Decay bacteria in sewage.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

People can contract hepatitis from eating raw shellfish because shellfish:

A)Are normal carriers of the hepatitis virus.
B)Absorb the virus from sediment.
C)Filter the virus from sewage-contaminated water.
D)Are effected by algal blooms which transmit the virus.
E)Contract the virus from passing fish.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

One of the following has been implicated in abnormal sexual behavior in seabirds:

A)Sewage pollution.
B)Chlorinated hydrocarbons.
C)Thermal pollution.
D)Heavy metals.
E)Eutrophication.

Question 5

Accumulation of sludge on the bottom of the ocean is responsible for:

A)Anoxic,or oxygen-lacking,conditions.
B)Drastic changes in salinity.
C)Deposit feeders being replaced by filter feeders.
D)Drastic changes in temperature.
E)Increase in the number of sharks and other predators.

Question 6

Which of the following organisms are expected to show the highest concentration of DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in its tissues?

A)Filter-feeding fishes
B)Carnivorous fishes
C)Phytoplankton
D)Sea lions
E)Zooplankton

Question 7

A persistent chemical is one that is:

A)Toxic.
B)Non-biodegradable.
C)A thermal pollutant.
D)Insoluble in water.
E)Resistant to detergents.

Question 8

The problem of hypoxic,or "dead" zones,in the ocean is caused by:

A)Oil pollution from tanker discharge.
B)Lead pollution from heavy industry.
C)Eutrophication due to algae blooms.
D)Thermal pollution from power plants.
E)Pesticides from agriculture.

Question 9

An anthropogenic impact is one caused by:

A)Physical factors in the environment.
B)Organisms that are part of marine communities.
C)The destruction of primary producers.
D)Organisms that live in neighboring marine communities.
E)Human activities.

Question 10

The most harmful oil spills in terms of large-scale damage to the marine environment:

A)Discharge from refineries.
B)Discharge of oil during the unloading of tankers.
C)Sinking or collision of tankers.
D)Runoff from coastal cities.
E)Natural seepage.

Question 11

After oil spills,what type of marine animals is most likely to die of exposure?

A)Migrating fishes like salmon
B)Cetaceans
C)Sea urchins
D)Filter-feeding fishes
E)Seabirds

Question 12

The two most persistent sources of oil pollution that keep oil in the marine environment for sustained periods are:

A)Tanker and storage leak accidents.
B)Tar balls and tanker accidents.
C)Natural seepage and urban runoff.
D)Urban wastes and normal operation of tankers.
E)Refinery discharges.

Question 13

Eutrophication is a type of pollution caused by:

A)Lead.
B)DDT.
C)Mercury.
D)Nitrogen.
E)PCB's.

Question 14

Chlorinated hydrocarbons are found most commonly in which type of pollution:

A)Fertilizers.
B)Sewage.
C)Oil.
D)Aerosol containers.
E)Pesticides.

Question 15

Persistent chemicals such as pesticides are particularly harmful to the environment because they:

A)Are toxic to plants and other autotrophs.
B)Are not soluble in seawater.
C)Interfere with the oxygen intake of organisms.
D)Are toxic since they are radioactive.
E)Accumulate in organisms that are higher in the food chain.

Question 16

A substance that is biodegradable:

A)Evaporates very slowly.
B)Forms tar balls or other solid residues.
C)Can be broken down only by special chemicals.
D)Sinks to the bottom.
E)Can be broken down by bacteria.

Question 17

Which of the following is not an effect of oil spills on the marine environment?

A)Phytoplankton blooms
B)Increase susceptibility to disease in fish
C)Decreased ability to stay warm in birds
D)Interference with normal reproduction of organisms

Question 18

Trawling is particularly destructive to:

A)Soft bottom communities.
B)Coral reefs.
C)Sandy beaches.
D)Salt marshes.
E)Abyssal plains.

Question 19

Chlorinated hydrocarbons reach the marine environment by way of:

A)Tanker accidents.
B)Thermal pollution.
C)Land-nesting seabirds.
D)River runoff.
E)Underwater volcanic eruptions.

Question 20

PCBs are characterized by being:

A)Persistent.
B)Easily biodegradable.
C)Radioactive.
D)Responsible for global warming.
E)Responsible for eutrophication.

Question 21

Efforts to restore kelp forests include:

A)Transplantation of sea urchins.
B)Cutting kelp just below the surface of the water.
C)Transplanting young kelp.
D)Seeding with fertilizers.
E)Growing kelp along floating rafts.

Question 22

Heavy metals include all of the following except:

A)Lead.
B)PCBs.
C)Mercury.
D)Cadmium.
E)Copper.

Question 23

Which of the following is not true regarding coral bleaching?

A)Can be the result of increased temperatures
B)Bleaching events are increasing
C)Bleaching results in no loss of zooxanthellae
D)Bleached corals do not grow
E)Bleached corals are vulnerably to disintegration

Question 24

Mercury toxicity has been directly linked with one of the following health problems in humans:

A)Hepatitis.
B)Cancer.
C)Neurological disorders and paralysis.
D)Digestive disorders.
E)Respiratory problems.

Question 25

A threatened species is one that is:

A)In immediate danger of extinction.
B)At risk of extinction since its members are low in number.
C)Not at risk even if its members are low in number.
D)At great risk since it only exists in zoos or marine parks.
E)Within a few years of disappearing forever.

Question 26

Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides would be likely to be found in the greatest concentrations in the tissues of:

A)Phytoplankton.
B)Zooplankton.
C)Plankton-eating fishes.
D)Carnivorous fishes.
E)Seals and sea lions.

Question 27

Introduced species are known to be transported into a new location by way of:

A)Ocean currents.
B)Plankton brought in by currents.
C)Transplanted oysters.
D)Natural migration.
E)Young individuals brought in by currents.

Question 28

The Steller sea cow was brought to extinction by:

A)The destruction of kelp beds.
B)The occupation of land by whalers.
C)Whalers hunting for meat.
D)The filling in of estuaries.
E)Increase in sediments in the water brought about by the cutting of nearby forests.

Question 29

Artificial reefs are known to:

A)Improve fishing.
B)Increase pollution.
C)Increase beach erosion.
D)Bring unwanted introduced species.
E)Change weather patterns.

Question 30

One of the following is known to be responsible for thermal pollution:

A)Radioactive fallout.
B)Sewage.
C)Excessive use of fertilizers.
D)Solid waste.
E)Power plants.

Question 31

Reduced light availability for zooxanthellae is most related to which of these human induced factors?

A)Increased sedimentation
B)Thermal pollution
C)Increased harvesting
D)Acidification
E)Pesticides

Question 32

Furans are pollutants that belong among the:

A)PCBs.
B)Chlorinated hydrocarbons.
C)Heavy metals.
D)Thermal pollutants.
E)Radioactive wastes.

Question 33

Sustainable development refers to development that:

A)Remains stable year after year.
B)Safeguards natural resources for future generations of people.
C)Does not alter ocean currents,salinity or any other physical or chemical factors in the environment.
D)Does not significantly affect the growth of wildlife.
E)Changes depending on the importance given by future generations of the use of particular resources.