Deck 24: Aquatic Ecosystems

Question 1

Flowing-water ecosystems often alternate two different but related habitats: the turbulent ________ and the quiet pool.

Answer 1

riffle

Question 2

Lakes that received large amounts of organic matter from surrounding land, particularly in the form of humic materials that stain the water brown, are called ________ lakes.

Answer 2

dystrophic

Question 3

The water above the continental shelf belongs to the ________ province of the pelagic zone.

Answer 3

neritic

Question 4

The zone in the ocean from the surface to approximately 200 metres deep is called the ________, or photic, zone.

Question 5

Reef-building corals have a symbiotic relationship with algal cells called ________ that live within the cells of corals.

Question 6

The tiny, photosynthetic, primary producers of open water such as desmids, diatoms, and filamentous algae, are referred to as ________.

Question 7

In lakes and ponds, the ________ zone is a shallow water zone along the perimeter in which light reaches the bottom.

Question 8

In the benthic zone of lakes and ponds, organisms that are attached to or move on a submerged substrate, but do not penetrate it, are referred to as ________, or aufwuchs.

Question 9

When rivers flow into the ocean, they create a zone of mixing of freshwater with saltwater referred to as a(n)________.

Question 10

A relatively ________ lake is characterized by an abundance of nutrients, abundant algal growth, and shallow light penetration.

Question 11

In lakes and ponds, the primary place of decomposition occurs in the ________ zone.

Question 12

Still water ecosystems, such as ponds and lakes, are also called ________ ecosystems.

Question 13

Streams generally have a ________ temperature at their headwaters than toward their outlet.

Question 14

________ refers to the plants and animals living on the bottom of the ocean.

Question 15

A(n)________ is a ring of coral reefs and islands surrounding a lagoon and are formed when a volcanic mountain subsides beneath the surface.

Question 16

In lakes and ponds, the open water zone extending to the depth of light penetration is referred to as the ________ zone.

Question 17

In streams and rivers, the group of invertebrates that feeds on coarse particulate organic matter (mostly leaves that fall into the stream)is referred to as the ________.

Question 18

In lakes and ponds, the depth at which respiration balances photosynthesis is referred to as the ________ depth of light.

Question 19

________ refers to the nutrient enrichment of aquatic ecosystems.

Question 20

Smaller than diatoms, the ________, which include tiny cyanobacteria, haptophytes, and coccolithophores, make up the largest biomass in temperate and tropical water.

Question 21

In lakes and ponds, phytoplankton and zooplankton are most abundant in the

A)benthic zone.
B)littoral zone.
C)limnetic zone.
D)profundal zone.

Question 22

Invertebrates that feed on coarse particulate organic matter, such as leaves that fall into streams and rivers, are referred to as

A)shredders.
B)gougers.
C)grazers.
D)collectors.

Question 23

As a stream or river descends, it generally grows

A)faster and cooler.
B)slower and warmer.
C)faster and warmer.
D)slower and cooler.

Question 24

In the ocean, swimming organisms that can move at will in the water column are referred to as

A)periphyton.
B)zooplankton.
C)megaplankton.
D)nekton.

Question 25

In lakes and ponds, decomposition occurs primarily in the

A)benthic zone.
B)littoral zone.
C)limnetic zone.
D)profundal zone.

Question 26

A lake that forms through tectonic movement is known as a ________ lake.

A)tarn
B)kettle
C)oxbow
D)rift

Question 27

Which of the following bodies of water best represents a lotic ecosystem?

A)salt pond
B)marsh
C)oxbow lake
D)spring

Question 28

The dominant autotrophs of the open water are

A)phytoplankton.
B)kelp.
C)seagrasses.
D)stromatolites.

Question 29

The productivity of oceans is greatest in the

A)neritic province at tropical latitudes.
B)oceanic province at tropical latitudes.
C)neritic province at temperate latitudes.
D)oceanic province at temperate latitudes.

Question 30

Which of the following lakes is likely to be the most oligotrophic?

A)small and shallow
B)small and deep
C)large and shallow
D)large and deep

Question 31

Invertebrates that feed on the algal coating of stones and rubble in streams and rivers are referred to as

A)shredders.
B)gougers.
C)grazers.
D)collectors.

Question 32

The community that colonizes submerged substrate (plants, rocks etc.), making them feel slimy, is known as

A)Aufwuchs.
B)benthos.
C)collectors.
D)nekton.

Question 33

In the ocean, phytoplankton are most abundant in the

A)abyssalpelagic zone.
B)bathypelagic zone.
C)epipelagic zone.
D)mesopelagic zone.

Question 34

The oxygen-minimum layer of an ocean occurs in the

A)abyssalpelagic zone.
B)bathypelagic zone.
C)epipelagic zone.
D)mesopelagic zone.

Question 35

In lakes and ponds, photosynthesis occurs primarily in the

A)benthic zone.
B)profundal zone.
C)limnetic zone.
D)lotic zone.

Question 36

The general term for flowing bodies of water is

A)lentic.
B)lotic.
C)limnetic.
D)turbulent.

Question 37

Semi-enclosed areas of the coastal ocean where seawater is diluted and partially mixed with freshwater coming from the land are referred to as

A)eddies.
B)coastal reservoirs.
C)tidal basins.
D)estuaries.

Question 38

In lakes and ponds, oxygen concentrations are lowest in the

A)benthic zone.
B)littoral zone.
C)limnetic zone.
D)profundal zone.

Question 39

In streams and rivers, decomposition occurs primarily in

A)the benthic zone.
B)riffles.
C)pools.
D)the lotic zone.

Question 40

In ponds and lakes, the zone beneath the depth of effective light penetration but above the bottom is referred to as the

A)littoral zone.
B)limnetic zone.
C)profundal zone.
D)benthic zone.

Question 41

Photosynthesis in the ocean takes place mostly in the mesopelagic zone.

Question 42

Phytoplankton thrive in the limnetic zone of lakes and ponds.

Question 43

In rivers and streams, the invertebrates that scrape algae off of rocks are referred to as shredders.

Question 44

Unlike phytoplankton, which are at the mercy of currents, zooplankton can move at will within a current.

Question 45

Non-flowing water bodies, such as lakes, are referred to as lotic ecosystems.

Question 46

Eutrophic lakes typically are very clear, with little algal growth.

Question 47

The deepest water of an ocean in deep-sea trenches and canyons is referred to as the hadalpelagic zone.

Question 48

The cells of reef-building corals are inhabited by symbiotic species of

A)algae.
B)fungi.
C)bacteria.
D)cyanobacteria.

Question 49

Oxygen concentrations are relatively high in the bottom ooze of lakes and ponds.

Question 50

In the profundal zone of a lake or pond, the rate of photosynthesis exceeds the rate of respiration.

Question 51

Coral reefs grow best where water is

A)warm, shallow, and clear.
B)warm, deep, and clear.
C)cold, shallow, and clear.
D)cold, deep, and murky.

Question 52

The organisms living on the bottom of the ocean are collectively referred to as

A)nekton.
B)benthos.
C)meiofauna.
D)epifauna.

Question 53

Lakes and ponds are often formed through nongeological activities.

Question 54

Decomposition in lakes and ponds occurs primarily in the benthic zone.

Question 55

In rivers and streams, decomposition takes place mostly in riffles.

Question 56

As a stream flows down its course, it generally becomes warmer and slower.

Question 57

In hydrothermal vent communities, autotrophic organisms obtain energy by oxidizing

A)reduced sulfur compounds.
B)carbon dioxide.
C)sodium chloride.
D)metals such as copper and iron.

Question 58

Because the thermocline is permanent in tropical oceans, little vertical mixing occurs, resulting in low productivity.

Question 59

Most estuarine organisms are benthic.

Question 60

The benthic community of an ocean, with the exception of hydrothermal vents, is best described as

A)completely heterotrophic and very diverse.
B)completely autotrophic and very diverse.
C)completely phototrophic and not very diverse.
D)mostly heterotrophic and not very diverse.

Question 61

Describe the physical conditions to which organisms living in an estuary must be adapted.

Question 62

Coral reefs occur in nutrient-poor areas of the ocean.

Question 63

Because of the high pressure and cold temperatures, few species of organisms survive in the deep benthic zone of the ocean.

Question 64

Describe three different types of reefs and how they are formed.

Question 65

Bioluminescence reaches its greatest development in the mesopelagic zone of an ocean.

Question 66

Describe three different processes that can lead to the formation of a lake or pond.

Question 67

Using Lake Winnipeg as an example, outline the factors that cause, and the results of, eutrophication.

Question 68

Swimming organisms in the ocean that are able to move at will in the water column are referred to as nekton.

Question 69

Many zooplankton migrate to the surface to graze on phytoplankton during the day and retreat to deeper water during the night.

Question 70

Organisms living in deep-sea hydrothermal vents do not need light to obtain their energy.

Question 71

Based on their feeding behaviour, describe three major groups of invertebrates that inhabit flowing water.

Question 72

Describe the differences between eutrophic and oligotrophic lakes. What conditions lead to the natural formation of each?

Question 73

Describe the types of organisms and biological activities that occur within the littoral, limnetic, and benthic zones of a lake.

Question 74

Barrier reefs are separated from land by shallow lagoons.

Question 75

Describe the differences between phytoplankton, zooplankton, and nekton. How do they interact with each other?