Deep Ocean Benthic Ecosystems

Which of the following are the four main types of deep ocean benthic regions?

• Hydrothermal vents, abyssal plains, cold seeps, and dead bodies

• Trenches, seamounts, mid-ocean ridges, and continental slopes

• Coral reefs, kelp forests, estuaries, and open ocean

• Shallow seas, deep trenches, volcanic islands, and coastal zones

What type of organisms are commonly found on the abyssal plain?

• Mostly predators

• Very small organisms that rely on sunlight

• Scavengers and deposit feeders

• Organisms that create their own food using photosynthesis

What is the term for deep-sea organisms growing much larger than their relatives in shallower waters?

• Deep sea dwarfism

• Abyssal adaptation

• Deep sea gigantism

• Hydrothermal growth

What is the primary producer in deep sea hydrothermal vents?

• Algae that use sunlight for energy

• Chemosynthetic bacteria that live inside tube worms

• Small fish and crustaceans

• Dead organic matter that floats down from the surface

What is the main way deep-sea mussels get their food in cold seeps?

• By eating small fish.

• By using sunlight to make food.

• By having special bacteria inside them that make food from chemicals.

• By filtering tiny plants from the water.

Why do animals that live in cold seeps grow more slowly than animals in hydrothermal vents?

• Cold seeps are much colder than hydrothermal vents.

• Cold seeps are more stable and last longer.

• There is less food available in cold seeps.

• Animals in cold seeps have more enemies.

What kind of animals are usually found eating dead bodies that sink to the bottom of the ocean?

• Producers

• Scavengers

• Herbivores

• Predators

How do dead bodies on the ocean floor help animals that live near hydrothermal vents?

• They provide a safe place to lay eggs.

• They are used as temporary homes while waiting for new vents to open.

• They offer a different kind of food source for all animals.

• They help the animals swim faster across the ocean floor.