Quiz: Carbohydrates in the Marine Environment & Marine Glycology

Which of the following is the single most significant source of carbohydrates in the open ocean?

• Macroalgae

• Phytoplankton

• Mangroves

• Seagrasses

A substantial fraction (5–40%) of carbon fixed by phytoplankton is released into seawater as:

• Particulate Organic Carbon

• Dissolved Organic Matter

• Lipids

• Nitrates

Which polysaccharide is characteristically produced by diatoms as a storage carbohydrate?

• Ulvan

• Carrageenan

• Chrysolaminarin

• Alginate

TEP (Transparent Exopolymer Particles) are important because they:

• Prevent CO₂ uptake in seawater

• Facilitate particle aggregation and carbon export

• Reduce microbial metabolism

• Deter herbivory in macroalgae

Brown algae such as kelp primarily produce which structural carbohydrates?

• Agarans and Carrageenans

• Cellulose and Lignin

• Ulvans

• Alginates and Fucoidans

Which ecosystem contributes large amounts of cellulose-rich leaf litter to the marine carbohydrate pool?

• Deep sea vents

• Coral reefs

• Mangrove forests

• Abyssal plains

The viral shunt contributes to the carbohydrate pool by:

• Enhancing photosynthesis in phytoplankton

• Releasing cell contents as DOM after lysis

• Producing new polysaccharides through chemosynthesis

• Fixing nitrogen and carbon simultaneously

Which marine species is known for producing ulvan, a sulfated cell wall polysaccharide?

• Chondrus crispus

• Saccharina latissima

• Ulva lactuca

• Zostera marina

Marine Glycobiology is best defined as the scientific discipline focused on:

• Genetic engineering of marine organisms

• Study of glycans and their roles/applications in marine organisms

• Production of marine-based pharmaceuticals only

• Study of proteins in marine ecosystems

Which of the following is a validated biomedical application of marine sulfated polysaccharides?

• Increasing salinity tolerance in fish

• Anticoagulant and antiviral activities

• Coral larvae substrate formation

• Enhancing seawater oxygenation