Marine Biology – Bio 360 Exam 1 Name: _________________________

September 30, 2011

Part I – Multiple choice. Mark your answers in the space beside each number. (1 point each, 20 points total).

1. _____The ocean is constantly changing, which provides a dynamic environment where marine organisms must survive. The ocean has changed over the years or still changes dramatically on a large scale for all of these, but least so in terms of:

a. Temperature b. Salinity c. Sea level d. Human impacts

2. _____Which is NOT true of the continental shelf:

a. About 8% of the ocean bottom

b. Constant width along continental margins

c. Dynamic and highly productive habitat

d. Greatly influenced by terrestrial environments

3. _____Waves are generally directly caused by:

a. Earthquakes b. Gravity c. Wind d. Coriolis effect

4. _____The highest and lowest tides during a month are referred to as ____ tides.

a. Diurnal b. Big c. Spring d. Neap

5. _____The most common tidal pattern is characterized by two high and two low tides of similar magnitude per day. This pattern is referred to as:

a. Diurnal b. Semidiurnal c. Mixed semidiurnal d. High/Low

6. _____Ocean currents are generally directly caused by:

a. Earthquakes b. Gravity c. Wind d. Coriolis effect

7. _____Oxygen minimum zones are common in different parts of the ocean and typically contain the least oxygen at depths of about:

a. 25 m b. 100 m c. 1000 m d. 4000 m

8. _____The most common cause of coastal upwelling along continental margins is:

a. Earthquakes b. Gravity c. Wind d. Coriolis effect

9. _____Each of these features is relatively stable throughout the ocean except for:

a. Density b. Salinity c. pH d. Light

10. _____Roughly ___% of energy is lost in each transfer of energy between trophic levels in marine ecosystems.

a. 10 b. 25 c. 50 d. 90

11. _____A prokaryotic primary producer in the sea:

a. Cyanobacteria b. Diatoms c. Dinoflagellates d. Silicoflagellates

12. _____Unicellular, phytoplankton with calcareous plates in cell walls that are major producers in tropical and subtropical seas:

a. Cocolithophores b. Diatoms c. Dinoflagellates d. Silicoflagellates

13. _____Phytoplankton with a cell wall (frustule) made primarily of silica and with two closely fitting halves:

a. Cocolithophores b. Diatoms c. Dinoflagellates d. Silicoflagellates

14. _____Phytoplankton associated with bioluminescence, red tide and zooxanthellae:

a. Cocolithophores b. Diatoms c. Dinoflagellates d. Silicoflagellates

15. _____The amount of material resulting from photosynthesis that is deposited as growth or reproduction is referred to as:

a. Gross primary production c. Net primary production

b. Total primary production d. G/R primary production

16. _____Nutrient regeneration in the sea differs greatly temporally and spatially from that on land. In the oceans one of the most important components of nutrient regeneration is:

a. Seasonal turnover c. Microbial loops

b. Detrital rain d. Organic cycling

17. _____Waters off California, Peru and the Canary Islands are some of the most productive areas of the ocean. The high level of productivity in these regions is due to:

a. Expanses of sea grasses c. Shallow depths

b. Human influence d. Coastal upwelling

18. _____Rhodophyta is associated with:

a. Red algae b. Green algae c. Brown algae d. All of these

19. _____The algae thought to have given rise to higher plants is:

a. Red algae b. Green algae c. Brown algae d. Golden brown algae

20. _____Algae or seaweed are most commonly grouped into the kingdom:

a. Plantae b. Fungi c. Monera d. Protista

Part II. Short Answer (5 points each, 10 points total). Answer TWO of the following.

1. Unlike terrestrial settings, a large amount of primary productivity in the marine environment is accomplished by photosynthetic organisms other than plants. List and briefly explain three major challenges faced by phytoplankton.

2. List and briefly describe three factors that limit primary productivity by phytoplankton in the marine environment.

3. List and briefly describe FIVE parts that make up the structure of a typical seaweed.

Part III. Longer Answer (10 points each, 20 points total). Answer TWO of the following.

1. Tides are an important variable in the ocean. Explain why in most parts of the world there are two high and two low tides in a 24 hour period and also explain why the extremity of tides changes over a 28 day cycle. Include figures if you like.

2. Rubberlip surfperch occur from Thurloe Head, Baja California, to Monterey Bay, California, whereas the redtail surfperch occurs from Monterey Bay, California, to Vancouver Island, British Columbia. These two species have a very similar appearance, and play similar roles in their respective ecosystems. Without knowing much about either species your knowledge about marine biology allows you to speculate about why these two species have the ranges they do. List three physical characteristics and two biological characteristics of the environment that might explain the divergent ranges of these two fishes and briefly explain how each factor might influence their ranges.

3. Explain the differences in photosynthesis by marine flowering plants, algae and phytoplankton. Include variation in actual photosynthetic mechanisms as well as various environmental challenges faced by each group and solutions to those challenges.