Question 1

Bleaching of stressed corals occur when they expel their zooxanthellae causing the corals to become white in color.

Accepted Answer

Coral bleaching occurs when corals, stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, causing the coral to turn completely white.

Question 2

The U.N. International Maritime Organization's International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)regulations specifically address the following types of marine pollution caused by shipping EXCEPT:
A)oil
B)sewage
C)garbage
D)All the above pollutants are regulated by MARPOL

Accepted Answer

MARPOL regulates all the listed types of pollution: oil, sewage, and garbage, aiming to prevent pollution of the marine environment by ships.

Question 3

Why are marine biologists concerned about the changes shown in the graph? 
A)Oscillations in water temperature lead to more severe El Niño events.
B)Warming trends lead to increased coastal development and related habitat loss.
C)Fish need warm water to breed, and many species may exceed their carrying capacities.
D)Increasing water temperatures can lead to coral reef declines.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are marine biologists concerned about the...

Question 4

How do cruise ships pose a threat to oceans?
A)They contribute to point source pollution.
B)They lead to increased coastal development.
C)They cause habitat destruction.
D)They contribute to non-point pollution.

Accepted Answer

Cruise ships contribute to point source pollution by discharging waste directly into the ocean, which can include sewage, graywater, and other pollutants.

Question 5

Which of the following statements does NOT apply to offshore extraction of manganese nodules from the ocean floor?
A)Dredging manganese nodules from the ocean floor would adversely affect sea life.
B)The current market value for manganese wouldn't cover the expense of obtaining them from the seafloor using existing technology.
C)It isn't clear which countries have legal rights to minerals like manganese nodules when they are in international waters.
D)No exceptions, all of the above apply to the extraction of manganese nodules from the seafloor.

Accepted Answer

All of the statements apply to the extraction of manganese nodules from the seafloor: it can harm sea life, the costs can outweigh the current market value, and there are legal ambiguities regarding rights to these minerals in international waters.

Question 6

Why are the coral shown in this photograph white? 
A)All of the coral polyps are open and gathering food.
B)These corals have been overgrazed by predators.
C)These corals have lost their zooxanthellae.
D)These corals have contracted a fungal disease.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why are the coral shown in this...

Question 7

What unique problem is related to photodegradation of plastics?
A)They break down into highly toxic chemicals.
B)Photodegradation of plastics is the cause of coral bleaching
C)Plastics break down, but into tiny bits that persist for an indefinite period.
D)Fish starve when they feed on degraded plastics.

Accepted Answer

Photodegradation causes plastics to break down into smaller pieces, known as microplastics, which persist in the environment indefinitely. These tiny particles do not biodegrade and pose significant environmental challenges.

Question 8

How might global warming lead to lower temperatures in Europe?
A)Melting of Greenland ice will cool European waters.
B)The ocean conveyor belt might shut down.
C)Global warming will lead to more El Niño events, and less upwelling.
D)Changing winds will lead to increased clouds and rainfall in Europe.

Accepted Answer

The ocean conveyor belt, or thermohaline circulation, is responsible for transporting warm water from the tropics to the North Atlantic. If global warming disrupts this system, it could lead to cooler temperatures in Europe.

Question 9

Mariculture is the cultivation of marine organisms for human consumption.

Accepted Answer

Mariculture refers to the branch of aquaculture that involves the cultivation of marine organisms in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds, or raceways filled with seawater. It includes the farming of fish, shellfish, and seaweed in saltwater environments specifically for human consumption.

Question 10

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act was passed by Congress mainly to control which of the following activities?
A)Dumping of trash in the oceans.
B)Dumping of sewage and industrial waste into ocean waters.
C)Nonpoint pollution runoff from land into the oceans.
D)Excessive dumping of bycatch by commercial fishing vessels close to the coasts.

Accepted Answer

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act was primarily aimed at prohibiting the dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste into ocean waters to protect marine environments.

Question 11

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act bars the dumping of sewage and industrial waste into the ocean.

Accepted Answer

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 amended the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, making it illegal to dump sewage sludge and industrial waste into the ocean.

Question 12

Which of the following changes to the environment will have the MOST universal effect on coral reefs despite their particular geographic location in the oceans?
A)Increased water temperatures from El Nino effects and/or global climate change.
B)Increased salinity from diversion of freshwater for human use.
C)Increased oxygen concentrations from algal blooms due to nutrient pollution.
D)Increased predation by parrot fish due to overfishing.

Accepted Answer

Increased water temperatures from El Nino effects and/or global climate change have a universal effect on coral reefs by causing coral bleaching, which can lead to the death of corals regardless of their specific geographic location.

Question 13

A major problem the US has in managing its oceans occurs because of which of the following?
A)An array of agencies and committees manages U.S. waters.
B)We do not have good models addressing climate change.
C)There are few laws addressing our oceans.
D)There is little point in trying to manage a global resource.

Accepted Answer

The major problem in managing U.S. oceans stems from the complexity and fragmentation of governance, with multiple agencies and committees involved, leading to potential overlaps, gaps, and inefficiencies in management efforts.

Question 14

Developing nations produce much more seafood by aquaculture than developed nations because:
A)They have more access to suitable warm water marine ecosystems with coastal upwellings that are best suited to aquaculture.
B)the breeding cycles of the fish are in keeping with the seasons in these regions.
C)the type of fish that can be raised in aquaculture are more suited to their diets.
D)they have abundant cheap labor as aquaculture is labor intensive.

Accepted Answer

Developing nations often have abundant cheap labor, which is advantageous for the labor-intensive nature of aquaculture.

Question 15

Plastic pollution has the potential to cause the following problem(s)for marine organisms:
A)Marine mammals and birds are susceptible to being entangled in and strangled by larger pieces of plastic.
B)Many filter-feeding organisms near the bottom of the ocean food chain constantly ingest the smaller degraded pieces of plastic.
C)The degraded plastic pieces may absorb and transport hazardous chemicals such as PCBs into marine food webs when organisms ingest the plastic.
D)All of the above

Accepted Answer

Plastic pollution affects marine organisms in multiple ways, including entanglement and ingestion, and can introduce hazardous chemicals into marine food webs.

Question 16

The difference(s)between fishing and aquaculture is/are:
A)Fish populations in aquaculture operations are more genetically homogenous than wild ones that are caught by fishing fleets.
B)Highly developed nations harvest more fishes from the ocean while developing nations produce much more seafood by aquaculture.
C)The limit on the size of a catch in fishing is the size of the natural population, whereas the limit on aquacultural production is primarily the size of the area in which organisms can be grown.
D)All of the above are differences between fishing and aquaculture

Accepted Answer

All the statements provided highlight key differences between fishing and aquaculture. A) addresses genetic diversity, B) contrasts the practices of developed versus developing nations, and C) discusses the limitations of each method.

Question 17

What is bycatch?
A)Animals that are unintentionally caught by fishing vessels.
B)Animals that die as a result of oil spills.
C)Animals that captured for use in aquaculture operations.
D)Fish that are caught but die before reaching markets or processing plants.

Accepted Answer

Bycatch refers to animals that are unintentionally caught by fishing vessels while targeting other species. This can include fish, but also non-target species like dolphins, turtles, and seabirds, which can be harmed or killed in the process.

Question 18

Coral reefs in Australia and the Pacific Ocean are at the greatest risk of damage from human activities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Coral reefs in Australia and the Pacific...

Question 19

Aquaculture is:
A)fish farming.
B)growing plants without soil.
C)using desalinated water for irrigation.
D)fishing without bycatch.

Accepted Answer

Aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae, and other organisms in all types of water environments, essentially encompassing fish farming.

Question 20

What is likely to be the MOST important global impact of bycatch?
A)Loss of ocean biodiversity.
B)Coral bleaching.
C)Nonpoint source pollution.
D)Habitat destruction.

Accepted Answer

Bycatch often involves catching and discarding non-target species, which can lead to a significant loss of ocean biodiversity as it affects various marine life indiscriminately.

Quiz 11: The Ocean and Fisheries

Bleaching of stressed corals occur when they expel their zooxanthellae causing the corals to become white in color.

The U.N. International Maritime Organization's International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regulations specifically address the following types of marine pollution caused by shipping EXCEPT:

Why are marine biologists concerned about the changes shown in the graph?

How do cruise ships pose a threat to oceans?

Which of the following statements does NOT apply to offshore extraction of manganese nodules from the ocean floor?

Why are the coral shown in this photograph white?

What unique problem is related to photodegradation of plastics?

How might global warming lead to lower temperatures in Europe?

Mariculture is the cultivation of marine organisms for human consumption.

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act was passed by Congress mainly to control which of the following activities?

The Ocean Dumping Ban Act bars the dumping of sewage and industrial waste into the ocean.

Which of the following changes to the environment will have the MOST universal effect on coral reefs despite their particular geographic location in the oceans?

A major problem the US has in managing its oceans occurs because of which of the following?

Developing nations produce much more seafood by aquaculture than developed nations because:

Plastic pollution has the potential to cause the following problem(s) for marine organisms:

The difference(s) between fishing and aquaculture is/are:

What is bycatch?

Coral reefs in Australia and the Pacific Ocean are at the greatest risk of damage from human activities.

Aquaculture is:

What is likely to be the MOST important global impact of bycatch?