NOSB 2018 (Regional Competition 1/Round 9)

Front

What ocean is the Mascarene Plateau located in?

Back

The Indian Ocean.

Front

Which abiotic factor does NOT significantly affect the health of feather boa kelp?

Back

Dissolved oxygen.

Front

What is the state fish of Virginia and Maryland, known as a key predator in the Chesapeake Bay?

Back

Striped bass, rockfish, Morone saxatilis.

Front

What event is caused by a runaway positive feedback between sea ice formation and land glaciers, leading to global glaciation?

Back

Snowball earth.

Front

Approximately what percentage of incoming shortwave solar radiation is absorbed by ocean and land?

Back

47%.

Front

Define abiotic factors in an ecosystem.

Back

Non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Front

What is the significance of the albedo effect in climate change?

Back

It refers to the reflectivity of Earth's surface, affecting temperature and climate patterns.

Front

Explain the concept of feedback loops in ecological systems.

Back

Processes where the output of a system influences its own input, either amplifying (positive feedback) or dampening (negative feedback) changes.

Front

What role do nutrients play in aquatic ecosystems?

Back

Nutrients are essential for the growth and health of aquatic plants and organisms, influencing food webs.

Front

What is the importance of dissolved oxygen in aquatic environments?

Back

Dissolved oxygen is crucial for the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms.