BIO 1108 UNIT 2 EXAM: SEA OTTERS
AND KELP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH FULL SOLUTIONS – NEW 2026
EDITION GUARANTEED SUCCESS
What are the defining characteristics and current status of Giant Kelp Forests?
✔✔ Found along the U.S. West Coast, these ecosystems are currently in
decline. They are vertically complex, with kelp capable of growing 2 feet daily,
and are known for their high biodiversity, stability, resistance, and resilience.
How do ocean currents and water chemistry support the kelp forest environment?
✔✔ Deep-sea upwelling maintains consistently cold temperatures and delivers
a steady supply of nutrients. Additionally, the water contains high levels of
dissolved oxygen, which is vital for the respiration of local fish populations.
What is the specific relationship between water temperature and its dissolved
oxygen content?
✔✔ The relationship is inverse: as the water temperature increases, its
capacity to hold dissolved oxygen decreases.
How is thermoregulation defined and why is it biologically critical?
✔✔ Thermoregulation is the process of internal temperature management. It
is essential because enzymes function most efficiently at specific optimal
temperatures; however, excessive heat can lead to denaturation, where
enzymes lose their structure and function.
behavioral adaptations -ANSWER✔✔behavioral strategies to maintain
homeostasis
-Ex. basking, sheltering, shivering, migrating
,physiological adaptations -ANSWER✔✔processes inside an animal's body that
help it survive in its environment
-Ex. vasodilation
Morphological Adaptations -ANSWER✔✔external characteristics of an animal's
body that help it survive in its environment
-Ex. blubber, thick fur, Small ears that limit the time blood vessels spend in
appendages
Thermoregulators -ANSWER✔✔Keeps internal environment constant
Advantages: can live in habitats with varying temperatures
Disadvantages: energy consuming
Ex. mammals/birds
Thermoconformers -ANSWER✔✔Let internal environment match external
environment
Advantages: doesn't take a lot of energy
Disadvantages: need to live in consistent environments
Ex. reptiles
Endotherm -ANSWER✔✔-temperature can be controlled by altering metabolic
rate
-All birds and mammals
-Typically larger animals
-Higher metabolic rates
-Small endotherms have HIGHER energy requirements than large endotherms
because of their high SA/V ratio
, Ectotherm -ANSWER✔✔-body temperature is not controlled with metabolism
-All reptiles and amphibians
-Typically smaller than endotherms
-Lower metabolic rates
thermoneutral zone -ANSWER✔✔temperature range where the metabolic rate
doesn't need to rise to maintain body temp
metabolism at its lowest
Smaller organisms have a ______________ metabolic rate, but larger organisms
have ______________ caloric requirements -ANSWER✔✔higher, higher
Marine mammals have ____________ metabolic requirements than terrestrial
mammals because water causes heat loss faster than air -ANSWER✔✔higher
Otters -ANSWER✔✔-Larger mammals (3-5 ft long, 50-100 lbs)
-Apex predator and keystone species of kelp forest
-No blubber, the densest fur in the world (morphological adaptation)
-Have high metabolic requirements
Urchin Barren -ANSWER✔✔Without otters, urchins increase and destroy
ecosystem (especially kelp) creating an urchin barren
Apex Predator -ANSWER✔✔predator with no natural predators
Often keystone species
AND KELP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH FULL SOLUTIONS – NEW 2026
EDITION GUARANTEED SUCCESS
What are the defining characteristics and current status of Giant Kelp Forests?
✔✔ Found along the U.S. West Coast, these ecosystems are currently in
decline. They are vertically complex, with kelp capable of growing 2 feet daily,
and are known for their high biodiversity, stability, resistance, and resilience.
How do ocean currents and water chemistry support the kelp forest environment?
✔✔ Deep-sea upwelling maintains consistently cold temperatures and delivers
a steady supply of nutrients. Additionally, the water contains high levels of
dissolved oxygen, which is vital for the respiration of local fish populations.
What is the specific relationship between water temperature and its dissolved
oxygen content?
✔✔ The relationship is inverse: as the water temperature increases, its
capacity to hold dissolved oxygen decreases.
How is thermoregulation defined and why is it biologically critical?
✔✔ Thermoregulation is the process of internal temperature management. It
is essential because enzymes function most efficiently at specific optimal
temperatures; however, excessive heat can lead to denaturation, where
enzymes lose their structure and function.
behavioral adaptations -ANSWER✔✔behavioral strategies to maintain
homeostasis
-Ex. basking, sheltering, shivering, migrating
,physiological adaptations -ANSWER✔✔processes inside an animal's body that
help it survive in its environment
-Ex. vasodilation
Morphological Adaptations -ANSWER✔✔external characteristics of an animal's
body that help it survive in its environment
-Ex. blubber, thick fur, Small ears that limit the time blood vessels spend in
appendages
Thermoregulators -ANSWER✔✔Keeps internal environment constant
Advantages: can live in habitats with varying temperatures
Disadvantages: energy consuming
Ex. mammals/birds
Thermoconformers -ANSWER✔✔Let internal environment match external
environment
Advantages: doesn't take a lot of energy
Disadvantages: need to live in consistent environments
Ex. reptiles
Endotherm -ANSWER✔✔-temperature can be controlled by altering metabolic
rate
-All birds and mammals
-Typically larger animals
-Higher metabolic rates
-Small endotherms have HIGHER energy requirements than large endotherms
because of their high SA/V ratio
, Ectotherm -ANSWER✔✔-body temperature is not controlled with metabolism
-All reptiles and amphibians
-Typically smaller than endotherms
-Lower metabolic rates
thermoneutral zone -ANSWER✔✔temperature range where the metabolic rate
doesn't need to rise to maintain body temp
metabolism at its lowest
Smaller organisms have a ______________ metabolic rate, but larger organisms
have ______________ caloric requirements -ANSWER✔✔higher, higher
Marine mammals have ____________ metabolic requirements than terrestrial
mammals because water causes heat loss faster than air -ANSWER✔✔higher
Otters -ANSWER✔✔-Larger mammals (3-5 ft long, 50-100 lbs)
-Apex predator and keystone species of kelp forest
-No blubber, the densest fur in the world (morphological adaptation)
-Have high metabolic requirements
Urchin Barren -ANSWER✔✔Without otters, urchins increase and destroy
ecosystem (especially kelp) creating an urchin barren
Apex Predator -ANSWER✔✔predator with no natural predators
Often keystone species
