Question 1

The diversity of organisms is greater in the intertidal zone of rocky shores than in sandy and muddy shores.

Accepted Answer

Rocky shores provide a variety of niches and habitats for different organisms such as algae, barnacles, mussels, crabs, and snails. The intertidal zone on rocky shores also experiences a wider range of environmental factors such as wave action, exposure to the sun, and temperature changes, which further enhance biodiversity. In contrast, sandy and muddy shores have a relatively uniform and stable environment, leading to lower species diversity.

Question 2

The floating peat over open water makes this habitat a

Accepted Answer

The answer of  The floating peat over open water...

Question 3

Bird and mammal predators are more common in salt marshes during low tide than during high tide.

Accepted Answer

During low tide, salt marshes are more exposed and predators like birds and mammals are able to hunt more easily for their prey. During high tide, the water level is higher and these predators may not have access to prey that is low in the marsh.

Question 4

Shoreline communities exhibit strong zonation.

Accepted Answer

Shoreline communities exhibit a strong zonation pattern due to the varying conditions such as tidal flux, wave energy, and substrate type. Different types of organisms occupy distinct zones from the shoreline to the depths of the ocean.

Question 5

Freshwater wetlands are important in supporting

Accepted Answer

Freshwater wetlands provide habitat and resources for a variety of species, including waterfowl, aquatic invertebrates, and amphibians. Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 6

The hydroperiod of a wetland is longest for

Accepted Answer

Basin wetlands have a closed water system and do not receive regular water input from rivers or tides, allowing them to retain water for longer periods, resulting in longer hydroperiods. Riverine wetlands are dependent on regular water input from rivers, while coastal wetlands are affected by tides and have varying hydroperiod durations. Fringe wetlands are transitional zones between upland areas and wetlands and do not necessarily have longer hydroperiods.

Question 7

The installation of tile drainage systems on farms removes wetlands from the Midwestern landscape.This with the loss of coastal marshes in the South are dramatically impacting

Accepted Answer

The removal of wetlands through tile drainage systems affects the habitat and availability of food sources for migratory waterfowl.

Question 8

Which area is best known for its large effect of hydroperiod?

Accepted Answer

Prairie potholes are shallow wetlands that are formed by the glaciers and are known for their large effect of hydroperiod. These wetlands are characterized by their dynamic water levels that constantly change due to precipitation and runoff. This fluctuation in water levels creates a diverse range of habitats, which in turn support a variety of plant and animal species. Bottomlands, fens, and bogs are also wetland ecosystems but are not as well-known for their hydroperiod as prairie potholes.

Question 9

Most organisms in the intertidal zone of sandy shores burrow into the sand.

Accepted Answer

Burrowing into the sand is a common adaptation for organisms in the intertidal zone of sandy shores to avoid exposure to air during low tide and to avoid being washed away by waves during high tide.

Question 10

The roots of mangrove trees often have extensions called pneumatophores that facilitate oxygen absorption by the roots.

Accepted Answer

Pneumatophores are present in many species of mangrove trees and serve as extensions of the roots that help in oxygen exchange by absorbing it from the air, especially during high tide when the roots are submerged in water.

Question 11

Salt marshes occur mostly below the intertidal zone and are exposed only during very low tides.

Accepted Answer

Salt marshes occur mostly in the intertidal zone, which means they are exposed during low tides and covered during high tides.

Question 12

Salinity is more variable in the intertidal zone of rocky shores than in sandy and muddy shores.

Accepted Answer

The intertidal zone of rocky shores is more exposed to wave action and therefore experiences greater fluctuations in water levels, which can affect salinity. In contrast, sandy and muddy shores may have more stable water levels and thus less variation in salinity.

Question 13

Ribbed mussels (Modiolus demissus),fiddler crabs (Uca spp.),and marsh periwinkles (Littorina spp.)are the dominant animals of a high salt marsh.

Accepted Answer

Ribbed mussels, fiddler crabs, and marsh periwinkles are more commonly associated with the lower parts of salt marshes where they can more easily access the water, rather than the high salt marsh which is typically drier and less frequently inundated by tides.

Question 14

Peat bogs and mires generally form under ________ conditions.

Accepted Answer

Peat bogs and mires can form under both dystrophic (acidic, nutrient-poor) and oligotrophic (low nutrient) conditions. Therefore, the best choice is C, which includes both dystrophic and oligotrophic conditions. Choice A and B only include one type of condition, and choice D includes eutrophic conditions, which do not typically favor the formation of peat bogs and mires.

Question 15

Sphagnum is an important component of which system?

Accepted Answer

Sphagnum is an important component of peatlands, also known as bogs or mires. Sphagnum mosses accumulate over time and create layers of peat, which act as important carbon sinks and support unique ecosystems.

Question 16

In tidal pools,carbon dioxide concentrations are higher during the day than during the night.

Accepted Answer

During the day, photosynthesis by aquatic plants and algae consumes carbon dioxide, lowering its concentration in tidal pools, whereas at night, respiration dominates, increasing carbon dioxide levels.

Question 17

Peatlands differ from other wetlands in that

Accepted Answer

Peatlands differ from other wetlands in that the rate of organic production exceeds the rate of decomposition, leading to the accumulation of organic matter and formation of peat deposits. This is a unique characteristic of peatlands, distinguishing them from other wetlands.

Question 18

The meiofauna of a sandy beach are organisms living on the surface of sediments.

Accepted Answer

Meiofauna are organisms that live in the interstitial spaces within sediments, not on the surface.

Question 19

Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)can be found in different forms,such as tall in the low marsh environment and short in the high marsh environment.This response to environmental conditions is an example of genotypic plasticity.

Accepted Answer

This response is an example of phenotypic plasticity, where a single genotype can produce different phenotypes in response to environmental conditions, rather than genotypic plasticity, which would involve genetic changes.

Question 20

On rocky shores,shallow pools produced by ebbing tides maintain the same temperature and salinity as the open ocean.

Accepted Answer

Tide pools on rocky shores experience fluctuations in temperature and salinity due to exposure to the sun and evaporation, making their conditions different from the open ocean.

Quiz 25: Coastal and Wetland Ecosystems