coral reef

The red lionfish (shown below) is a voracious predator of small fish, including young angelfish and parrotfish. In the Caribbean, red lionfish have no natural predators. What is the most likely long-term outcome of the introduction of lionfish to a pristine reef?

• the numbers of stoplight parrotfish and queen angelfish will decrease.

• The numbers of yellowtail snappers and Nassau groupers will decrease.

• The number of long-spined sea urchins will increase.

• All of the above

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

A spike in the popularity of Nassau groupers in American restaurants causes a sharp increase in grouper fishing. How will this affect the population of yellowtail snappers?

• The number of yellowtail snappers will increase.

• The number of yellowtail snappers will decrease.

• The number of yellowtail snappers will decrease at first, and then increase.

• There will be no effect on yellowtail snapper populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

in a reef off the coast of a large island, an increase in net fishing lowers the populations of most reef fish (including stoplight parrotfish, queen angelfish, yellowtail snappers, and Nassau groupers). The heavy nets also trap hawksbill sea turtles and damage corals. Assuming the reef has a healthy population of long-spined sea urchins, what is the most likely result?

• Coral cover will increase.

• Sponge cover will increase.

• Algae cover will increase.

• Coral, sponge, and algae cover will remain the same.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Two reefs are exposed to the black band disease pathogen. Reef A is located in a remote area off a rocky coast that receives little rainfall. Reef B is located near a resort hotel, a heavily fertilized golf course, and a forest that has been recently clearcut for a housing development. Both reefs are dominated by star corals. What is the most likely outcome of the disease on each reef?

• Reef A will suffer greater damage than reef B

• Reef b will suffer greater damage than reef A.

• Both reefs will suffer equal damage from the disease.

• Neither reef will be affected because black band disease affects only branching corals.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What is the most likely outcome of a disease that kills off the long-spined sea urchins on a reef?

• Staghorn coral cover will increase.

• Star coral cover will increase

• Sponge cover will increase.

• Algae cover will increase.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-2

NGSS.MS-LS2-4