Coastal Wetlands and Estuaries Quiz

What are coastal wetlands?

• Areas submerged completely in saltwater

• Land areas covered by saltwater for all or part of the time

• Regions where only freshwater is found

• Dry land areas adjacent to the coast

What is an estuary?

• A body of water where only freshwater from a river mixes with saltwater from the ocean

• A coastal area with no vegetation or wildlife

• An area in which fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean

• A landform with no significant ecological importance

Why are estuaries considered very productive ecosystems?

• They are isolated from nutrient sources

• They receive constant pollutants from rivers

• They constantly receive fresh nutrients from the river

• They are protected from ocean waves by coral reefs

What crucial ecological service do coastal wetlands provide?

• They increase the salinity of the ocean

• They absorb excess rain, protecting from flooding

• They are primarily used for industrial purposes

• They prevent the mixing of fresh and salt water

What is one reason estuaries are important for marine organisms?

• Estuaries provide a habitat with varying salt content.

• Estuaries are the only place where horseshoe crabs can lay eggs.

• Estuaries prevent sunlight from reaching the bottom.

• Estuaries contain no nutrients for plants and animals.

Which organisms provide food for larger animals such as fish and dolphins in estuaries?

• Oysters

• Barnacles

• Plankton

• Horseshoe crabs

What was one of the main issues that led to the environmental problems in the Chesapeake Bay?

• Overfishing in the bay area

• Pollution buildup due to a narrow opening joining the bay and the ocean

• The introduction of invasive species

• Natural disasters such as hurricanes

What was the Chesapeake Bay Program's main goal?

• To increase the fishing industry in the bay

• To promote tourism in the Chesapeake Bay area

• To restore the bay's water quality and habitats

• To build new industrial facilities around the bay

Which rivers contribute to the formation of the Chesapeake Bay?

• Mississippi and Ohio

• Colorado and Rio Grande

• Potomac and Rappahannock

• Hudson and Delaware

How many of the world's major ports are built on estuaries?

• 10

• 6

• 8

• 4