Understanding Marine Productivity and Fishing

While having a supposedly 'great' day at the beach, Becca and Ruby are bickering about the ocean's photic zone. Can you settle their argument about what the main thing holding back photosynthesis is in this sunlit part of the ocean?

• Temperature

• Light levels

• Salinity

• Water pressure

Answer explanation

Light levels are the primary limiting factor for photosynthesis in the ocean's photic zone, as sufficient light is essential for the process. Other factors like temperature, salinity, and water pressure are less critical in this context.

Imagine you're on a boat trip with Kate and Charlie in the North Sea, and they're bickering about everything! Which mysterious zone in the ocean relies on tasty grub made near the sunlit surface, while you try to keep the peace?

• Photic zone

• Aphotic zone

• Benthic zone

• Pelagic zone

Answer explanation

The photic zone is where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis. The aphotic zone, below it, relies on food produced in the photic zone, as it lacks light for photosynthesis. Thus, the correct answer is the aphotic zone.

Meg and Ruby, always trying to outsmart each other, are bickering over the ocean's mysteries. Can you settle their argument by telling them which process actually boosts phosphate levels in the photic zone?

• Evaporation

• Upwelling

• Sedimentation

• Photosynthesis

Answer explanation

Upwelling is the process where deep, nutrient-rich waters rise to the surface, increasing phosphate levels in the photic zone, which supports marine life. Other options like evaporation and sedimentation do not directly increase phosphate levels.

Debbie, Sarah, and Ruby are off on a marine adventure, like! They're dead keen to find out which nutrient is often a limiting factor for biological productivity in the ocean. Can you give them a hand in figuring it out, pet?

• Nitrogen

• Phosphates

• Potassium

• Calcium

Answer explanation

Phosphates are often a limiting nutrient in ocean productivity, as they are essential for the growth of phytoplankton, which forms the base of the marine food web. Nitrogen is also important, but phosphates are more frequently limiting.

Tom and Kate are at the beach, and as usual, Tom thinks he knows everything. He smugly points out something happening in the sea, claiming it's coastal upwelling. Kate, rolling her eyes, wonders if he even knows what that means. Can you guess what's actually causing the coastal upwelling?

• Strong offshore winds

• High salinity

• Increased water temperature

• Low atmospheric pressure

Answer explanation

Coastal upwelling occurs when strong offshore winds push surface water away from the coast, allowing deeper, nutrient-rich water to rise and replace it. This process is crucial for marine ecosystems.

Andy and Kayleigh, always trying to outdo each other, are off on a marine adventure. They're both convinced they know the best way to catch fish that hang out on the seabed. What kind of fishing should they be doing, since they can't seem to agree?

• Pelagic fishing

• Demersal fishing

• Drift netting

• Purse seining

Answer explanation

Demersal fishing specifically targets species that live on or near the seabed, such as flatfish and cod, making it the correct choice. In contrast, pelagic fishing targets species in the open water column.

Imagine you're an ocean detective from Teesside, like Becca, and you're dealing with the baffling case of the disappearing fish. Of course, it's not like anyone else noticed the obvious consequences of overfishing those slow-growing, k-selected species, right?

• Rapid population recovery

• Increased biodiversity

• Population decline

• Enhanced breeding rates

Answer explanation

Overfishing k-selected species, which have low reproductive rates, often leads to population decline. These species cannot recover quickly from high mortality rates, resulting in fewer individuals and potential extinction.

Charlie and Kayleigh, always trying to outdo each other, are off on a so-called marine adventure. They're supposedly after some tuna and squid for their tea. Which fishing method should they be using that involves a line of baited hooks, or are they just going to argue about it all day?

• Pelagic trawling

• Drift nets

• Pelagic long lines

• Purse seining

Answer explanation

Pelagic long lines are fishing methods that use a long line with multiple baited hooks, effectively targeting species like tuna and squid. This distinguishes them from other methods listed.

Hey there, ocean adventurers! Can you give Katy and Charlie a hand in figuring out what "bycatch" means when they're out on their fishing trips?

• The main target species

• Unwanted catch of non-target species

• A type of fishing net

• A method of sustainable fishing

Answer explanation

Bycatch refers to the unwanted catch of non-target species during fishing. This can include fish, marine mammals, and birds that are unintentionally caught, making it a significant issue in fishing practices.

Debbie and Tom, who apparently think they're ocean experts, are on a so-called adventure. They've stumbled upon a spot where the nutrient levels are sky-high, probably because of some storms and upwelling currents they didn't predict. Which part of the ocean are they cluelessly exploring?

• Tropical oceans

• Temperate oceans

• Ocean around Antarctica

• Mediterranean Sea

Answer explanation

The ocean around Antarctica experiences high nutrient levels due to strong storms and upwelling currents, which bring nutrient-rich waters to the surface, supporting diverse marine life.