MODULE 4 QUIZ: Oceanography 101

Check the Course Syllabus for the DUE DATE of this quiz.

Come to class on the due date with a SCANTRON filled in with your answers.  You must submit a SCANTRON to receive credit, not a printout with boxes checked.

This Quiz Set covers Chapters 12, 13, 14 and 15 in the Essentials of Oceanography textbook (9th edition by Trujillo & Thurman).  I encourage you to print out the quiz and work on it as you read each chapter.  There are 45 questions, which works out to 11 or 12 questions for each chapter.  The questions are in random order; that is, not necessarily in the order the topics are covered in each chapter.

Chapter 12

  1.

Which of the following is correct regarding the Deep Scattering Layer (DSL)?

(a) It is caused by sonar waves reflecting off of densely packed concentrations of marine organisms.

(b) It moves up toward the ocean surface at night and down during the day.

(c) It can occur as deep as the abyssopelagic zone.

(d) (a) and (b) above are both correct.

(e) (b) and (c) above are both correct.

  2.

What features characterize the oxygen minimum layer?

(a) Abundant sunlight and photosynthesis.

(b) Low amounts of oxygen.

(c) High levels of nutrients.

(d) (a) and (b) above.

(e) (b) and (c) above.

  3.

Which of the following oceanic zones would probably have few or no bioluminescent organisms?

(a) mesopelagic

(b) bathypelagic

(c) abyssopelagic

(d) hadal

(e) euphotic

  4.

Marine fishes are ___________ compared to seawater, and therefore have adaptations to deal with the problem of ______________________________. (Hint: The question concerns osmosis.)

(a) hypotonic ... losing water from their bodies

(b) hypotonic ... absorbing excess water into their bodies

(c) hypertonic ... losing water from their bodies

(d) hypertonic ... absorbing excess water into their bodies

(e) lonely ... finding a boyfriend or girlfriend

  5.

Figure 12.8 shows us that the smaller an object, the relatively larger its surface area compared to its volume. This principle gives tiny phytoplankton cells the ability to do what?

(a) Increase the efficiency with which they transfer nutrients and waste across their cell membranes.

(b) Reduce the rate at which they sink through the water.

(c) Swim more easily, since their small size makes them less resistant to water's viscosity.

(d) (a) and (b) above.

(e) (b) and (c) above.

  6.

Figure 12.11 illustrates the striking difference between land and ocean temperature ranges. This difference is caused by

(a) the greater heat capacity of water versus land.

(b) the fact that some solar energy goes into evaporating ocean water rather than increasing its temperature.

(c) the fact that solar energy penetrates much farther into ocean water than it does into rock and soil.

(d) (a), (b) and (c) above.

(e) None of the above.

  7.

Which of the following creatures would NOT be classified as nekton?

(a) tuna

(b) clam

(c) blue whale

(d) dolphin

(e) squid

  8.

Organisms that are plankton during their juvenile stage, but become nekton or benthos in their adult stage are called

(a) picoplankton.

(b) meroplankton.

(c) macroplankton.

(d) ultraplankton.

(e) holoplankton.

  9.

What do phytoplankton and zooplankton have in common?

(a) They can both produce their own food through photosynthesis.

(b) Neither can produce their own food through photosynthesis.

(c) They both belong in the Kingdom Protoctista.

(d) They both belong in the Kingdom Animalia.

(e) They both float and drift with ocean currents.

  10.

Which of the following statements about marine life is CORRECT?

(a) Countershading describes a common color pattern in fishes with dark coloration on the top of the body and light coloration on the bottom.

(b) In general, warm water species grow faster and have shorter life spans than cold water species.

(c) Photosynthesis occurs in the euphotic zone.

(d) (a), (b) and (c) above are all correct.

(e) None of the above are correct.

  11.

Organisms that float and drift with the ocean currents: ____________.
Organisms that swim:______________.
Organisms that live on the sea bottom: ______________.
(Choose the answer with the correct terms in the correct order to fill in the three blanks.)

(a) epifaunal ... meiofaunal ... infaunal

(b) oligotrophic ... autotrophic ... heterotrophic

(c) autotrophic ... heterotrophic ... oligotrophic

(d) benthos ... plankton ... nekton

(e) plankton ... nekton ... benthos

 

 

Chapter 13

  12.

Dinoflagellates are an example of __________________ and are often associated with ________________.

(a) phytoplankton ... HABs (harmful algal blooms)

(b) zooplankton ... tidal bores

(c) nekton ... grunion runs

(d) benthos ... spring tides

(e) suspension feeders ... biogeochemical cycling

  13.

A single-celled planktonic creature that has an internal shell made of silica (a glass-like material).

(a) dinoflagellate

(b) diatom

(c) coccolithophore

(d) picoplankton

(e) None of the above.

  14.

Counter to many people's intuition, the most biologically rich and productive ocean surface waters are often cold, whereas warm surface waters often have low primary productivity.  Which of the following relates most closely to this fact?

(a) Carbohydrates dissolve more easily in cold water.

(b) Cold water lowers the compensation depth for photosynthesis.

(c) Chlorophyll works better in cold water, so photosynthesis can happen faster.

(d) The supply of nutrients is usually greater in cold water.

(e) The longer lifespan of animals and plants in cold water make these areas more productive.

  15.

A lack of this would limit the amount of primary production by photosynthesis.

(a) carbohydrate

(b) light (solar radiation)

(c) nutrients (such as phosphrous, nitrate, iron and silica)

(d) Both (a) and (b) above.

(e) Both (b) and (c) above.

  16.

What is the connection between chlorophyll and SeaWiFS?

(a) SeaWiFS measures the color of the ocean from space, and since chlorophyll changes the color of the ocean, this gives a measure of the amount of photosynthesis.

(b) A SeaWiFS probe towed behind a boat can measure chlorophyll levels in the ocean much more efficiently than other methods.

(c) A SeaWiFS sensor lowered from a ship gives a continuous reading of chlorophyll levels from the surface down to the compensation depth for photosynthesis.

(d) SeaWiFS sensors measure ocean currents and upwelling, and since upwelling is related to productivity, this gives an indirect measure of chlorophyll.

(e) None of the above.

  17.

The old Alfred Hitchcock thriller "The Birds" was inspired by an actual event in which birds attacked people because the birds were affected by

(a) denitrifying bacteria.

(b) domoic acid poisoning from diatoms

(c) paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

(d) nutrient degeneration.

(e) mushrooms.

  18.

The ratio of energy passed on to the next higher trophic level divided by the energy received from the trophic level below it is called the __________________, and averages about_____ percent.

(a) organic transfer rate ... 25

(b) biomass inversion ratio ... 80

(c) food web transfer ratio ... 15

(d) gross ecological efficiency ... 10

(e) None of the above.

  19.

Photosynthesis in TROPICAL oceans is generally limited by which of the following factors?

(a) The abundance of zooplankton.

(b) The lack of a thermocline and its associated pycnocline.

(c) The turbidity of the water.

(d) The amount of sunlight.

(e) The availability of nutrients in surface waters.

  20.

The reason most marine life occurs in the surface waters of the ocean is because

(a) photosynthesis requires sunlight, which limits most photosynthesis to the euphotic zone.

(b) the water is clear enough for sunlight to penetrate and thus food items are more easily seen.

(c) most organisms cannot stand the cold temperatures that occur in deep water.

(d) most organisms cannot withstand the crushing pressures that occur in deep water.

(e) there are fewer predators in surface waters.

  21.

Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement regarding fisheries?

(a) The trapping of dolphins in purse seine nets caused a public outcry and boycotting of tuna in the US.

(b) After increasing steadily for many years, the world catch of ocean fish leveled off in the 1990s.

(c) Driftnets (or gill nets) have high amounts of bycatch.

(d) Many commercial fish stocks have been overfished (i.e., they have been so heavily harvested that there is not enough breeding stock left to replenish the species).

(e) Coastal, continental shelf, and upwelling areas produce about 50 percent of the world's fish catch. The other 50 percent comes from open ocean areas.

  22.

Figure 13.14 and the related text deal with changing levels of primary productivity over the course of the year in different ocean areas. Primary productivity in polar regions is limited mostly by _______________, while productivity in tropical regions is limited mostly by ________________.

(a) upwelling ... downwelling

(b) nutrients ... sunlight

(c) sunlight ... nutrients

(d) the thermocline ... the halocline

(e) autotrophs ... heterotrophs

  23.

Given the importance of nutrients for primary productivity, which of the coastal regions described below would be the most productive?  (Hint: the answer relates to wind direction and Ekman Transport in coastal regions.)

(a) A coast where the wind blows consistently from the ocean toward the land.

(b) A coast where the wind blows consistently from the land toward the ocean.

(c) A coast where the wind blows parallel to the coast and causes surface water to flow away from the coast.

(d) A coast where the wind blows parallel to the coast and causes surface water to flow toward the coast.

(e) Cannot make any such generalization.

 

 

Chapter 14

  24.

Which of the following whales is NOT a member of the Mysticeti?

(a) sperm whales.

(b) gray whales.

(c) right whales.

(d) blue whales.

(e) humpback whales.

  25.

One of the best ways to tell the difference between a seal and a sea lion is that

(a) only seals ever leave the water.

(b) only sea lions have large front flippers and an ear flap.

(c) only sea lions have prominent claws or nails on their fore flippers.

(d) only seals use echolocation.

(e) only sea lions have tusks.

  26.

The focusing of echolocation sounds by toothed whales is believed to involve the

(a) jawbone.

(b) rostrum.

(c) dorsal fin.

(d) melon.

(e) blowhole.

  27.

Cetaceans don't get “the bends” during long deep dives because they

(a) don't dive after eating a large meal.

(b) have collapsible lungs.

(c) have myoglobin.

(d) are insensitive to high levels of CO2.

(e) extract more oxygen from each breath than a human diver.

  28.

Which of the following is CORRECT regarding fish swim bladders?

(a) Many fish use swim bladders to achieve neutral buoyancy.

(b) The oxygen gas concentration in the bladder increases the deeper the fish lives.

(c) Many fish in very deep water have fat deposits instead of gas in their swim bladders.

(d) (a), (b) and (c) above are all correct.

(e) None of the above.

  29.

Many ______________ hunt their prey using echolocation, while zooplankton (like krill) are the favored prey of many ______________.

(a) pinnipeds ... manatees

(b) lungers ... cruisers

(c) Odontoceti ... Mysticeti

(d) sea otters ... polar bears

(e) walruses ... sea lions

  30.

If you have gone to a fish counter at a supermarket, you may have noticed that some types of fish meat (muscle) are mostly light-colored or white, while other types are mostly dark-colored and often red. What accounts for this difference?

(a) White muscle dominates in schooling fish, while red muscle dominates in solitary fish.

(b) Shallow water fish have mostly white muscle, because they have plenty of oxygen, whereas deep water fish have mostly red muscle in order to swim in their lower-oxygen environment.

(c) Homeothermic fish have mostly white muscle, which lets them keep a constant temperature, whereas poikilothermic fish have mostly red muscle.

(d) White muscle dominates in lungers, while red muscle with its high oxygen supply is common in crusiers.

(e) None of the above.

  31.

Which one of the following is believed to be the MOST important function of schooling in fishes?

(a) It lets fish work cooperatively to circle to trap potential prey.

(b) It helps assure reproduction by keeping the fish near each other.

(c) It creates “drafting” opportunities (less resistance to water is found in the vortex behind each fish).

(d) It creates a method of communication within the school.

(e) It offers some protection from predators.

  32.

Which of the following is NOT a common feature of deep-sea fishes?

(a) Large, light-sensitive eyes.

(b) Ability to catch and swallow very large prey.

(c) Large, hinged jaws.

(d) Large caudal fins and powerful swimming muscles.

(e) Production of light through bioluminescence.

  33.

Killer whales

(a) are a type of rorqual whale.

(b) often hunt in groups or packs.

(c) sometimes play with their prey for a while before killing it.

(d) (a) and (b) above.

(e) (b) and (c) above.

  34.

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding gray whales and their migration?

(a) Gray whales have the longest known migration of any mammal.

(b) Gray whales migrate between the lagoons of Baja California and the Bering and Chukchi Seas.

(c) Gray whales feed on krill and other zooplankton in surface waters.

(d) Gray whales begin to migrate south around September, after the peak of the summer plankton bloom.

(e) Gray whales were once hunted nearly to extinction, but in recent times their populations have come back strongly.

 

 

Chapter 15

  35.

Organisms in deep-sea hydrothermal vent biocommunities have high metabolic rates and rapid reproduction rates because

(a) hydrothermal vent areas are short-lived phenomena, so the organisms have to grow and reproduce quickly.

(b) the food supply is so limited, so organisms have to take advantage as fast as possible.

(c) productivity is highly seasonal, especially in the mid-latitudes.

(d) the amount of productivity is restricted in these deep areas that are below the euphotic zone.

(e) high metabolic rates and rapid reproduction are necessary to support zooxanthellae.

  36.

Benthic life forms include

(a) filter feeders who are attached to a firm surface.

(b) deposit feeders who burrow in sediments.

(c) active predators who move freely on the bottom.

(d) (a), (b) and (c) above.

(e) None of the above.

  37.

These animals have tentacles with specialized stinging cells used to immobilize their prey.

(a) nematodes

(b) sea anemones

(c) corals

(d) (a) and (b) above.

(e) (b) and (c) above.

  38.

All of the following features would be good for the growth of coral reefs EXCEPT which?

(a) Warm water (64-86ºF).

(b) Water of high turbidity.

(c) A hard substrate for attachment.

(d) Normal salinity seawater.

(e) Movement of water by waves and currents.

  39.

Which of the following is correct regarding kelp and kelp forests?

(a) Kelp attaches by a holdfast to rocks in water up to 100 feet deep.

(b) Kelp along the Pacific coast of North America have gas-filled floats that allow them to rise toward the surface and gather sunlight.

(c) The term kelp "forest" is apt because kelp grows quite slowly, about as fast as trees in a forest.

(d) (a) and (b) above.

(e) (b) and (c) above.

  40.

“Bleaching” of coral reefs is caused by

(a) bioerosion, specifically the eating of the coral reef by reef fishes.

(b) declines in water temperature below the 64 degree F threshold for reefs.

(c) the covering over of reefs by sand during storms.

(d) the erosion of reefs during storms.

(e) the expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae algae.

  41.

The primary food source for organisms in deep-sea hydrothermal vent biocommunities is

(a) bacteria-like organisms that chemosynthesize.

(b) detritus raining down from the euphotic zone.

(c) deep currents that supply nutrients and oxygen.

(d) zooplankton.

(e) occasional "bonanzas" of food like dead whales (yum--dinner!) that sink to the bottom.

  42.

In the zones of the rocky intertidal, mussels would be most common in the _____________, while periwinkles and buckshot barnacles would be most common in the ______________.

(a) high tide zone ... middle tide zone

(b) middle tide zone ... high tide zone

(c) middle tide zone ... low tide zone

(d) low tide zone ... middle tide zone

(e) supratidal zone ... subtidal zone

  43.

Which of the following is a CORRECT statement about symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) and the corals in which they live?

(a) The symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae and coral polyps is parasitic.

(b) Coral polyps get most of their nutrition from zooxanthallae, and relatively little by gathering food with their stinging tentacles.

(c) Zooxanthellae algae make up about 10 percent of the biomass of reef-building corals.

(d) Symbiotic algae occur only in corals, not in other animals.

(e) All of the above are correct statements.

  44.

The intertidal areas of sediment-covered shores

(a) typically have high species diversity.

(b) are dominated by infauna.

(c) include boulder beaches, sand beaches and mud flats.

(d) Both (a) and (b) above.

(e) Both (b) and (c) above.

  45.

Sticking your tongue into a sea anemone might

(a) be fun.

(b) taste good.

(c) become a habit.

(d) kill you.

(e) cause it to suck your brains out through your nose.