Water quality

How are estuaries connected to oceanic organisms?

• Estuaries provide nursery Estuaries provide nursery grounds for oceanic organisms
• Estuaries provide sunlight for oceanic organisms.
• Estuaries provide primary food for oceanic organisms.
• Estuaries provide excess dissolved oxygen for oceanic organisms.

How would excessive increases in nitrate and phosphorous concentration affect
freshwater systems?

• It would cause excessive algal blooms.
• It would cause increased dissolved oxygen.
• It would cause increased water clarity.
• It would cause extremely cold water.

If your community was planning to build a new sanitary landfill, what would be the
most important environmental consideration in locating the landfill?

• cost of the land
• location of the groundwater
• proximity to an industrial park
• accessibility to a major highway

Which best explains how estuaries support plant and animal life?

• The dry land removes pollutants.
• The water provides energy for growth.
• The habitat areas provide nutrients and shelter.
• The cold temperatures decrease dissolved oxygen.

Which best describes a significant benefit estuaries have on the environment?

• Wildlife helps protect the land from erosion in estuaries.
• Fishing industries thrive in and around tropical estuaries.
• Pollution is moved from rivers to oceans through estuaries.
• Coastal wetlands provide safe and ideal conditions to support animal habitats.

Which best explains why estuaries are an important habitat for many marine
organisms in comparison to the open ocean?

• There are more nutrients available in estuaries.
• There is less food in estuaries.
• There are more predators in estuaries.
• There is more salt available in estuaries.

Which statement best describes why most of the water cycle takes place over the
oceans.

• Most of Earth’s water is located in the oceans.
• Saltwater evaporates more quickly than freshwater.
• The temperatures over the oceans are warmer than over land.
• The temperatures over the oceans are colder than over land.

Which is the greatest harm or hazard agriculture can have on a river basin?

• Topsoil can wash into the river.
• Farms can harm recreational areas along river banks.
• Seeds from the farm plants can grow in the river.
• Runoff from fertilizers and pesticides can pollute the river.

Which is the best conclusion about life in estuaries?

• There is a diverse group of microscopic organisms.
• There is a limited group of microscopic organisms.
• There is a very diverse group of organisms.
• There is a limited group of fish and organisms.

Which would be the impact on the environment if there were no estuaries?

• There would be a drought.
• There would be less boating, fishing and swimming.
• There would be an increase concentration of salt in the oceans.
• There would be more pollutants in the oceans.