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Marine Ecosystems

Total questions: 27

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why would benthic (bottom dwelling) organisms be colored red?

a)

to been seen more easily by a mate

b)

to absorb light energy

c)

to have a bad taste, discouraging predators

d)

to be camouflaged in the deep ocean

2.

Which of the following are considered abiotic factors that affect marine environments?

a)

predation

b)

competition

c)

salinity

d)

parasitism

3.

Oyster beds have a major ecological role in salt marshes. What is it?

a)

flood control

b)

bacteria collection

c)

cutting tourist feet

d)

filtering water

4.

What is an adaptation most useful to a sandy beach animal?

a)

attachment

b)

floating

c)

burrowing

d)

camouflage

5.

Why is it important to preserve sea oat plantings on sand dunes?

a)

they provide consumable seeds

b)

leaves are a habitat for small animals

c)

they regulate the sand temperature

d)

roots stabilize the soil

6.

Where would you find a coral reef?

a)

shallow tropical regions

b)

shallow temperate zones

c)

shallow polar regions

d)

all of these

7.

Why are zooanthellae important?

a)

they prey on zooplankton

b)

they provide food and oxygen for corals

c)

they erode nutrients for algae use

d)

they contain digestive enzymes

8.

Penguins live in the _____________.

a)

Arctic

b)

Antarctic

9.

Polar bears live in the _____________.

a)

Arctic

b)

Antarctic

10.

Reindeer live in the _____________.

a)

Arctic

b)

Antarctic

11.

True or False? Deep ocean thermal vents release sulfur, calcium, and carbon dioxide.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

True or False? Deep ocean thermal vents are located in the photic zone of the ocean.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

Where would you find a kelp forest?

a)

along cold current coastlines

b)

embedded in an estuary

c)

in the tropical ocean zones

d)

along eastern continental shelves

14.

How does a sea otter help the giant kelp forests?

a)

by removing competing seaweeds

b)

by feeding on carnivorous fish

c)

by feeding on sea urchins

d)

by dispersing kelp spores

15.

True or false? Salt marsh plants are important as a directly consumed food source.

a)

True

b)

False

16.

Why are mangroves important to their ecosystem?

a)

they serve as nurseries

b)

all of these

c)

they absorb wave energy

d)

roots help prevent erosion

17.

What is important about mangrove roots?

a)

they stabilize the plant in mud

b)

they provide stilts to clowns

c)

they stablize the plant on the rocky shore

d)

they provide recreational opportunities for iguanas

18.

Which marine ecosystem am I? I have strong wave action, and my organisms are adapted to both wet and dry conditions.

a)

coral reef

b)

mangrove forest

c)

rocky shore

d)

salt marsh

19.

Vertical zonation on rocky shores is mostly the result of differences in tolerance to which factor?

a)

wave action

b)

exposure

c)

predation

d)

salinity

20.

Where does the majority of oxygen that we breathe come from?

a)

phytoplankton

b)

animals

c)

factories

d)

rainforests

21.

Let's talk polar...LAND covered with ice is the ....

a)

arctic

b)

antarctic

22.

Let's talk polar...OCEAN covered with ice is the ....

a)

arctic

b)

antarctic

23.

What is the primary source of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide?

a)

plants/ photosynthesis

b)

combustion of fossil fuels

c)

decomposition

d)

respiration

24.

An increase in excess oceanic carbon dioxide causes ocean acidification and a decrease in .....

a)

calcium carbonate

b)

methane

c)

carbonic acid

d)

antacid

25.

If you were an open ocean organism, which of these adaptations would help you to survive?

a)

floating with the current

b)

all of these

c)

ability to swim long distances

d)

having countershading

coloration

26.

True or False? Kelp is a plant.

a)

True

b)

False

27.

In which marine ecosystem would you be most likely to find chemosynthetic organisms?

a)

deep ocean

b)

mangrove forests

c)

coral reefs

d)

rocky shores