Coral reef ecology - Marine Science

Select the potential consequence of ocean acidification for coral reef systems.

• bleaching of coral

• decreased algal production

• reduced dispersal of coral larvae

• destruction of coral reef structures

A recent study found that 63% of butterfly fish were observed to be perched on, or sheltered within, live corals. From this information, corals are habitat

• formers

• modifiers

• responders

• determiners

Which abiotic factors have determined the distribution of corals over the past 6000 years?

• light availability, salinity

• light availability, suitable substrate

• average sea surface temperatures, salinity

• average sea surface temperatures, suitable substrate

Select the option that would have the greatest impact on increasing marine fish stocks.

• banning bottom trawling

• reducing coastal pollution

• improving governance and enforcement

• increasing the number of marine protected areas

The graph below shows the results of a reef survey. The graph suggests that habitat rugosity between 1.22 and 2 supports

• lower levels of functional group diversity.

• greater levels of functional group diversity.

• optimal levels of functional group diversity.

• stabilised levels of functional group diversity.

Which of the following, if increased, would have the most widespread impact on the distribution of coral?

• number of flood events

• sea surface temperatures

• land-based sources of pollution

• crown-of-thorns starfish presence

Approximately 20% of calcium carbonate produced in the ocean falls onto portions of the sea floor above the carbonate saturation horizon. The remainder, which falls below the horizon, would be

• saturated.

• dissolved.

• preserved.

• accumulated.

Which option describes the correct order of the sexual life cycle of typical reef-forming hard coral?

• polyp, planulae, gametes, zygotes

• gametes, polyp, planulae, zygotes

• gametes, zygotes, planulae, polyp

• zygotes, polyp, planulae, gametes

Select the list of criteria used to design Australia’s marine protected areas.

• connectivity, fish population numbers

• connectivity, coverage and networking

• aesthetic value, fish population numbers

• aesthetic value, coverage and networking

An experiment was conducted exposing the coral Montipora tuberculosa to realistic levels of organically enriched (OE) water and heat stress for 90 days.

At the conclusion of the recovery period, it was found that:

• 100% of the coral exposed to OE water at 25 °C survived

• 56% of the coral exposed to OE water at 31 °C survived.

Using Shelford’s law of tolerance, select the condition set that best describes the exposure of the coral Montipora tuberculosa to OE water at 31 °C.

• maximum

• minimum

• optimum

• stable