Introduction to Marine Biology Guided Notes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best describes marine biology?

• It is the study of plants and animals that live in the ocean.

• It is the study of weather patterns over the ocean.

• It is the study of the movement of ocean currents.

• It is the study of minerals found in the ocean.

Open Ended

Why is the study of marine biology important for understanding life on Earth?

Open Ended

Describe two ways in which the oceans benefit humans, based on the images provided.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a reason why oceans are important to life on Earth, as shown in the first three images?

• They contain the greatest abundance and diversity of life

• They provide food, medicines, and oxygen

• They help determine the climate

• All of the above

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the blank: Overfishing means catching more fish than the ocean can ___.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about global fish stocks is/are correct?

• 31% are overfished

• 58% are fished to capacity

• 11% are underfished

• All of the above

Open Ended

Explain how overfishing can impact both fish populations and human communities.

Multiple Choice

What are some fishing methods that can destroy or damage seafloor habitats?

• Explosives

• Driftnets

• Trawling

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Which fishing method is described as 'bulldozing the oceans' and is known for catching almost everything in its path, causing damage to vulnerable habitats?

• Trawls

• Longlines

• Gillnets

• Handlines

Fill in the Blank

Every year, fishing bycatch kills over ___ sharks.

Open Ended

Based on the information and images provided, explain the term 'bycatch' and discuss its impact on marine life.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are consequences of bottom trawling as shown and described in the images?

• Destruction of seafloor habitats

• Selective fishing of only target species

• Scooping up everything in its path

• Minimal impact on marine life

Open Ended

How does pollution, as shown in the images, affect marine animals and ecosystems?

Multiple Choice

What evidence from the images suggests that plastic pollution can harm seabirds?

• Seabirds are shown eating plastic debris

• Seabirds are shown building nests with plastic

• Seabirds are shown flying over clean water

• Seabirds are shown avoiding polluted areas

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the environmental issue shown in the first image?

• Oil spills in the Pacific Ocean

• Plastic waste accumulation in ocean gyres

• Overfishing in coastal waters

• Coral bleaching due to climate change

Multiple Choice

Based on the images, why is plastic waste particularly problematic for the ocean environment?

• It decomposes quickly and releases nutrients

• It floats and accumulates in large patches, taking hundreds of years to decompose

• It dissolves in water and becomes harmless

• It is eaten by fish and helps them grow

Open Ended

Why was it important for scientists to observe marine organisms alive in their natural habitat rather than only studying dead specimens collected by dredging?

Multiple Select

What are some of the main challenges that limit our ability to explore the deep sea?

• No light

• Low oxygen

• Freezing temperatures

• Crushing pressure

Open Ended

How does the invention of the bathysphere represent a turning point in the exploration of the deep ocean?

Fill in the Blank

It was not until the 1930’s that the first explorers descended beyond where light penetrates in a tethered submersible known as a ___.

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the deepest part of the ocean that was reached by a submersible in 1960?

• Mariana Trench

• Puerto Rico Trench

• Tonga Trench

• Java Trench

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about deep-sea exploration are correct?

• The Mariana Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

• More people have walked on the moon than have reached the deepest part of the ocean.

• The deepest part of the ocean is less than 10,000 feet deep.

• Submersibles are used to explore the deepest parts of the ocean.

Multiple Choice

What does the acronym SCUBA stand for?

• Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

• Submersible Chamber for Underwater Breathing Activities

• Scientific Chamber for Underwater Biological Analysis

• Submarine Controlled Underwater Breathing Apparatus

Fill in the Blank

The device that allows divers to breathe underwater by reducing high-pressure air to ambient pressure is called a ___ regulator.

Open Ended

Explain how technological advancements such as SCUBA and submersibles have contributed to our understanding of marine biology.

Open Ended

How do you think the stability and size of ocean ecosystems impact the diversity of life found within them?

Multiple Choice

What is marine biology the scientific study of?

• Plants, animals, and other organisms that live in the ocean

• The atmosphere and weather patterns

• Desert plants and animals

• Mountain ecosystems

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of a hyperbaric chamber in diving?

• To treat decompression sickness

• To store diving equipment

• To train divers for deep-sea missions

• To simulate underwater pressure for research