An elementary school science teacher decided to liven up the classroom with a saltwater aquarium. Knowing that saltwater aquaria can be quite a hassle, the teacher proceeded stepwise. First, the teacher conditioned the water. Next, the teacher decided to stock the tank with various marine invertebrates, including a polychaete, a siliceous sponge, several bivalves, a shrimp, several sea anemones of different types, a colonial hydra, a few coral species, an ectoproct, a sea star, and several herbivorous gastropod varieties. Lastly, she added some vertebrates-a parrotfish and a clownfish. She arranged for daily feedings of copepods and feeder fish.
-The teacher was unaware of the difference between suspension feeding and predation. The teacher thought that providing live copepods (2 mm long)and feeder fish (2 cm long)would satisfy the dietary needs of all of the organisms. Consequently, which two organisms would have been among the first to starve to death (assuming they lack photosynthetic endosymbionts)?
A) sponges and corals
B) sea stars and sponges
C) shrimp and bivalves
D) corals and bivalves
E) bivalves and sponges

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sponges and bivalves are both suspension feeders, which means they filter small particles from the water to eat. The provided copepods and feeder fish are too large for these organisms to consume, leading to their starvation.

An Elementary School Science Teacher Decided to Liven Up the Classroom