Deck 12: Marine Life and the Marine Environment

Question 1

The depth of the nutrient maximum is found at the base of the mesopelagic zone.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

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

Answer 2

False

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The majority of marine species are pelagic.

Question 5

The depth of the oxygen minimum is found in the bathypelagic zone.

Question 6

Streamlining in fish means that the minimum amount of energy is expended to swim.

Question 7

One reason that polar climates support a high biomass is that cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen.

Question 8

The hadal zone is associated with deep-ocean trenches.

Question 9

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

Question 10

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

Question 11

The science of classification is termed taxonomy.

Question 12

The neritic province is associated with the continental shelf.

Question 13

The euphotic zone is contained entirely in the epipelagic zone.

Question 14

Epifauna live deep within benthic sediments.

Question 15

Cold, high viscosity water benefits floating organisms.

Question 16

One example of infauna are coquina clams that burrow into the beach sand as soon as they are washed ashore by the waves.

Question 17

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

Question 18

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

Question 19

Plankton which are 2.0 to 0.2 μm in size are called:

A) nanoplankton.
B) net plankton.
C) picoplankton.
D) phytoplankton.
E) zooplankton.

Question 20

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 21

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

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

Question 22

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

Question 23

Refer to the figure below to answer the following question(s)..

These 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 24

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

Question 25

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 decreases density.
D) All of the above statements are advantageous to marine organisms.
E) None of the above statements are advantageous to marine organisms.

Question 26

The portion of the ocean in which these organisms are most likely to be found is the:

A) benthic zone.
B) estuary.
C) intertidal zone.
D) pelagic zone.
E) sediment layer.

Question 27

An example of an organism that might be part of the epifauna is a(n):

A) bull kelp.
B) feather duster worm.
C) sea star.
D) shark.
E) tuna.

Question 28

Which of the following statements shows the correct hierarchical ordering of taxonomic levels in terms of increasing specificity?

A) class, family, genus, kingdom, order, phylum, species
B) genus, species order, family, kingdom, phylum, class
C) kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
D) order, family, genus, species, kingdom, phylum, class
E) phylum, class, order, kingdom, family, genus, species

Question 29

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

Question 30

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 - macroalgae
E) Kingdom Protista - phytoplankton

Question 31

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

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

Question 32

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 33

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 34

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 35

Euryhaline organisms:

A) are less common than stenohaline organisms.
B) can survive wide salinity fluctuations.
C) require less oxygen for survival.
D) tolerate a narrow range of salinities.
E) tolerate small temperature changes.

Question 36

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

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

Question 37

Multicellular organisms that are comprised of eukaryotic, heterotrophic cells with cell walls would most likely belong to the kingdom:

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

Question 38

Which of the following statements concerning bacteria is not true?

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 39

The photic zone is confined to the:

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

Question 40

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 41

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 42

When an organism has the same salt and water concentration as its environment, it is said to be:

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

Question 43

Most marine species are found in a(n):

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

Question 44

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 45

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

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

Question 46

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

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

Question 47

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 48

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 49

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 50

Neritic environments are influenced by:

A) seasonal salinity variations.
B) seasonal temperature fluctuations.
C) tidal movements.
D) wave energy.
E) All of the above factors influence neritic environments.

Question 51

Coastal waters that are highly productive tend to be:

A) brown in color.
B) colorless.
C) deep blue in color.
D) green in color.
E) light blue in color.

Question 52

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

A) has a wide, blunt end.
B) tapers at the anterior end.
C) tapers at the dorsal surface.
D) tapers at the posterior end.
E) tapers at the ventral surface.

Question 53

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 54

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 55

Zonation of benthic organisms includes all of the following except the:

A) abyssal zone.
B) bathyl zone.
C) hadal zone.
D) neritic zone.
E) subtidal zone.

Question 56

Which marine environment exhibits the greatest species diversity?

A) bathypelagic zone
B) epipelagic zone
C) hadal zone
D) littoral zone
E) neritic province

Question 57

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

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

Question 58

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

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

Question 59

Explain why the majority of marine organisms are benthic.

Question 60

Discuss osmotic balance in freshwater and saltwater fishes.

Question 61

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

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)Animalia
B)Archae
C)Fungi
D Plantae
E)Protoctista

Question 63

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

Question 64

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

Question 65

Discuss the modern taxonomic classification of living organisms and include in your answer the distinction between a Domain and a Kingdom.

Question 66

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

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)littoral
B)sublittoral
C)subneritic
D)suboceanic
E)supralittoral

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)holoplankton
B)macroplankton
C)meroplankton
D)nektoplankton
E)picoplankton

Question 69

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 70

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 71

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

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)kelp
B)krill
C)jellyfish
D)Sargassum
E)zooplankton