Biological Processes in the Open Ocean

What is marine snow primarily composed of?

• Ice crystals

• Organic and inorganic particles

• Sand grains

• Salt deposits

What role does marine snow play in the ocean?

• It increases ocean temperature

• It transports organic carbon and nutrients to deeper layers

• It creates ocean currents

• It reduces ocean salinity

What is diel vertical migration?

• A seasonal movement of fish

• A daily movement of marine organisms between ocean layers

• A migration of birds over the ocean

• A movement of ocean currents

Why do marine organisms perform diel vertical migrations?

• To escape predators during the day

• To find warmer waters

• To avoid ocean currents

• To reach the ocean floor

What happens during a whale fall?

• A whale floats on the ocean surface

• A whale sinks to the ocean floor and creates a unique ecosystem

• A whale migrates to warmer waters

• A whale is caught by fishermen

What is the initial phase of decomposition in a whale fall called?

• Enrichment opportunist phase

• Mobile scavenger phase

• Sedimentation phase

• Nutrient release phase

Which organisms are attracted to a whale fall?

• Dolphins and turtles

• Hagfish, sharks, and deep-sea creatures

• Coral and seaweed

• Penguins and seals

What is the significance of marine snow in the ocean's ecosystem?

• It reduces ocean acidity

• It influences biogeochemical cycles and productivity

• It increases ocean salinity

• It creates ocean waves

What is the largest migration on earth that happens daily?

• Bird migration

• Diel vertical migration

• Whale migration

• Fish spawning

What happens to a whale carcass as it decomposes in the ocean?

• It floats to the surface

• It becomes heavier and sinks

• It evaporates

• It turns into coral