Deck 11: The Coastal Oceans

Question 1

Nitrates and hydrocarbons are examples of persistent organic pollutants in marine ecosystems.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Primary sewage treatment involves the removal of inorganic nutrients from the liquid effluent.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Minamata disease was caused by mercury contamination.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Mangrove swamps are protective buffer areas in temperate latitude coastal ecosystems.

Question 5

Mediterranean Sea water has little impact on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 6

Salt marshes serve as nurseries for over half of the commercially important fish in the southeastern United States.

Question 7

Prevailing offshore winds tend to decrease surface water salinity in a coastal plain estuary.

Question 8

Pollutants are any substance that has a negative effect on the environment.

Question 9

Biomagnification is a result of the inefficiency of trophic transfer in the food we
B.

Question 10

The largest single oil pollution event was the result of the Persian Gulf War in 1991.

Question 11

The decreased calcium content in the shells of piscivorous birds was a result of bioaccumulation of pesticides in the food chain.

Question 12

Laguna Madre is a classic coastal plain estuary.

Question 13

The Law of the Sea Treaty is an international agreement which gives the United Nations control of the ownership of coastal waters.

Question 14

The greatest sources of hydrocarbons in the marine environment are urban run-off and shipping.

Question 15

Bioremediation involves the use of microorganisms to degrade pollutants such as crude oil.

Question 16

Territorial seas extend 12 miles from the coast and were established by the Law of the Sea Treaty.

Question 17

The Coriolis effect is evident in the surface circulation of Chesapeake Bay.

Question 18

Lagoons that form behind barrier islands are examples of:

A) bar-built estuaries.
B) coastal plain estuaries.
C) fjords.
D) salt wedge estuaries.
E) tectonic estuaries.

Question 19

The Columbia River estuary received most of its ecological damage from which of the following sources?

A) dikes erected by farmers to prevent flooding
B) dredging of the river to accommodate boat traffic
C) hydroelectric dams
D) pollution due to soil erosion from logging
E) poor farming practices

Question 20

An example of a coastal plain estuary is the:

A) Chesapeake Bay.
B) Laguna Madre.
C) Monterey Bay.
D) Pamlico Sound.
E) San Francisco Bay.

Question 21

An estuary produced by faulting or folding of rocks that creates a dropped-down section into which a river flows is called a:

A) bar-built estuary.
B) coastal plain estuary.
C) fjord.
D) salt wedge estuary.
E) tectonic estuary.

Question 22

The Pamlico Sound, a body of water between coastal North Carolina and the barrier islands of Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke Island is an example of a bar-built estuary.

Question 23

The biological response level that is impacted for the longest time period by pollutants in the marine environment is the:

A) biochemical-cellular level.
B) community dynamics and structure level.
C) organismal level.
D) population dynamics level.
E) trophic level.

Question 24

The type of circulation pattern found in Laguna Madre is:

A) opposite of the typical estuarine circulation pattern.
B) salt wedge pattern.
C) slightly stratified circulation pattern.
D) vertically mixed circulation pattern.
E) wind-driven circulation pattern.

Question 25

Coastal wetlands are characterized by:

A) high levels of inorganic nutrients in the tidal zone and oxygen-rich sediments
B) high levels of organic nutrients in the tidal zone and anoxic sediments.
C) high levels of organic nutrients in the tidal zone and oxygen-rich sediments.
D) low levels of inorganic nutrients in the tidal zone and anoxic sediments.
E) low levels of organic nutrients in the tidal zone and oxygen-rich sediments.

Question 26

One major problem associated with Chesapeake Bay and increased human pressure is:

A) an increased salinity during particular times of the year.
B) an increase in nutrients resulting in more frequent kills of bottom-dwelling animals.
C) decreased tributary river flow due to increased water demand.
D) salinity fluctuations due to reduced inflow from rivers.
E) the removal of sediments behind hydroelectric dams

Question 27

The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends:

A) 3 nautical miles form the coast.
B) 10.5 nautical miles from the coast.
C) 20 nautical miles from the coast.
D) 200 nautical miles from the coast.
E) into open international waters.

Question 28

An estuary formed from a flooded glacial valley is called a:

A) bar-built estuary.
B) coastal plain estuary.
C) fjord.
D) tectonic estuary.
E) vertically mixed estuary.

Question 29

Estuarine circulation associated with a shallow, low-volume estuary in which river water mixes evenly at all depths with ocean water would be called a:

A) highly stratified estuary.
B) salt wedge estuary.
C) slightly stratified estuary.
D) tectonic estuary.
E) vertically mixed estuary.

Question 30

The percentage of the original area of wetlands currently left in the United States is approximately:

A) 10%.
B) 25%.
C) 50%.
D) 65%.
E) 75%.

Question 31

Prevailing offshore winds produce coastal waters that:

A) are biologically diverse.
B) are cooler.
C) are identical to the open ocean.
D) have higher salinities.
E) have lower salinities.

Question 32

One reason that coastal wetlands are important is that they are efficient at removing sediments and toxins from coastal run-off before it enters the ocean.

Question 33

Estuarine circulation associated with a deep, high river volume system where no horizontal salinity gradient exists at the surface is called a:

A) bar-built estuary.
B) highly stratified estuary.
C) salt wedge estuary.
D) slightly stratified estuary.
E) vertically mixed estuary.

Question 34

When ocean water enters a marginal sea above a return flow of saltier water, the circulation pattern is called:

A) estuarine circulation.
B) fjord circulation.
C) lagoon circulation.
D) loop current circulation.
E) Mediterranean circulation.

Question 35

This wetland coastal area occurs:

A) between 30ºN and 30ºS latitude.
B) in coastal areas with low wave energy.
C) in coastal areas that do not experience seasonal killing frosts.
D) All of the above conditions control the distribution of this type of coastal wetland.
E) Only A and B determine the distribution of this type of wetland.

Question 36

An example of a bar-built estuary is:

A) Aleutian Islands.
B) Chesapeake Bay.
C) Laguna Madre.
D) Puget Sound.
E) San Francisco Bay.

Question 37

Salt wedge estuaries have a well-developed halocline.

Question 38

The toxicity of marine pollutants is estimated by:

A) calculating the concentration at which 50% of the test organisms die.
B) determining the length of time that the pollutant remains in the environment.
C) determining the total biomass of affected organisms in the environment.
D) estimating the number of trophic transfers in the food web affected by the pollutant.
E) the EPA.

Question 39

The most biologically devastating oil spills in the marine environment are a result of:

A) blow out accidents on drilling platforms.
B) collision and/or sinking of oil tankers.
C) discharge from refueling tankers and ships.
D) natural deep-sea seeps.
E) urban run-off.

Question 40

Bioremediation has been particularly effective in marine ecosystems in the clean-up of:

A) heavy metals.
B) hydrocarbons.
C) nitrates.
D) pesticides
E) thermal effluents.

Question 41

Plastics cause significant biological damage in oceans when:

A) degradation is rapidly releasing toxins into the environment.
B) netting strangles seals and birds.
C) pellets appear in the sediments.
D) plastics degrade in DDT.
E) they result in increased bacteria levels.

Question 42

Secondary sewage treatment is distinguished form primary sewage treatment by the:

A) addition of bacteria to process organic contaminants.
B) aeration of liquid effluent following chlorination.
C) chlorination of the liquid effluent.
D) removal of inorganic nutrients from the liquid effluent.
E) separation of the suspended solids from the liquid effluent.

Question 43

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)DDT
B)mercury
C)nitrates
D)phytoplankton
E)petroleum

Question 44

The deep water dumping site for sewage sludge off the U.S. East Coast initially seemed to be a good choice because:

A) a well-developed pycnocline should isolate the sewage.
B) internal waves would decrease water mixing.
C) it had been a well-studies method of sewage disposal.
D) thermal mixing occurred between the surface and deep water.
E) tsunamis are uncommon in this area.

Question 45

Reasons for loss of coastal wetlands include all of the following except:

A) agriculture.
B) coastal housing.
C) harvesting of mangroves for wood.
D) industrial development.
E) storm damage.

Question 46

Natural processes which help to remove oil spills from the ocean include all of the following except:

A) evaporation from the ocean surface.
B) digestion of significant amount by fish populations.
C) dispersal due to wave and wind action.
D) sinking due to aggregation into tarry lumps.
E) sinking of coated particles.

Question 47

The largest petroleum spill in the marine waters to date is attributed to the:

A) Argo Merchant.
B) Exxon Valdez.
C) M/V New Carissa.
D) Persian Gulf War of 1991.
E) Petroleus Mexicanos drilling operations.

Question 48

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)coastal plain
B)highly stratified
C)salt wedge
D)slightly stratified
E)vertically mixed

Question 49

Minamata disease is associated with:

A) dinoflagellates in tropical reef ecosystems.
B) eutrophication.
C) harmful algal blooms.
D) illegal fishing in tropical areas.
E) ingestion of methyl mercury-contaminated fish and shellfish

Question 50

Explain the difference between a territorial sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Question 51

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)Atlantic comb jelly
B)Caulerpa taxifolia
C)green crab
D)Spartina alterniflora
E)water hyacinth

Question 52

Point sources of municipal and industrial wastes in the United States are governed by:

A) Federal Clean Water Act.
B) Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.
C) Oceans Act of 2000.
D) Ocean Dumping Ban Act.
E) Rivers and Harbors Act.

Question 53

The two most significant sources of oil pollution in the marine environment are:

A) blow out accidents and urban run-off.
B) natural seeps and urban run-off.
C) normal oil tanker/shipping operations and urban run-off.
D) oil tanker and blowout accidents in marine coastal waters.
E) tar balls and oil tanker accidents.

Question 54

All of the following are examples of pollutants in the marine environment except:

A) heavy metals such as mercury and silver.
B) hydrocarbons.
C) nitrate and phosphates.
D) phytoplankton.
E) sewage effluent.

Question 55

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)bar-built
B)coastal plain
C)fjord
D)reverse
E)tectonic

Question 56

Dead zones resulting from hypoxia and anoxia:

A) are prevalent in coastal waters west of the Mississippi River delta during the summer months.
B) increase the standing stock of demersal fishes.
C) occur exclusively in estuarine environments.
D) result from significant inputs of organic hydrocarbons in marine environments.
E) stimulate high primary productivity in coastal areas.

Question 57

Which of the following organisms are expected to show the highest concentrations of DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in its tissues?

A) carnivorous fishes
B) filter-feeding fishes
C) phytoplankton
D) sea otters
E) zooplankton

Question 58

Discuss the biological role of estuaries in marine ecosystems. Why is it important to protect estuaries from human perturbation?

Question 59

List and describe the four types of estuaries and give an example of each.

Question 60

List the types of marine pollutants.

Question 61

How and by whom are marine natural resources regulated? Discuss the history of regulation and include in your answer the role of the United Nations.

Question 62

Why is storm drain run-off a significant contributor to non-point source pollution?

Question 63

Distinguish between estuaries, lagoons, and marginal seas and give an example of each.

Question 64

What is the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch and why did it form?

Question 65

Compare and contrast salt marshes and mangrove swamps.