OCE ch13 Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: The process by which energy derived from solar radiation is used by certain organisms to
form organic matter is called:
Answer: photosynthesis
Question 2: In general, the rate at which energy is stored by organisms through the formation of
organic matter is called:
Answer: primary productivity
Question 3: The euphotic zone in the open ocean extends from the surface down to approximately
________.
Answer: 100 meters
Question 4: Highly productive areas of coastal upwelling are found along the ________ margins of
continents, where surface currents are moving ________ the equator.
Answer: western; toward
Question 5: When compared to coastal regions, solar energy extends ________ into the water column
and concentrations of nutrients are ________ in the open ocean.
Answer: deeper; lower
Question 6: The nutrients that tend to limit photosynthesis in marine environments include:
Answer: b and c are correct
Question 7: The color of light most readily absorbed by water is _________.
Answer: red
Question 8: What characteristic of most of the tropical open oceans is directly responsible for the low
chlorophyll levels in these waters?
Answer: low nutrient concentrations
Question 9: What percent of the ocean's biomass relies either directly or indirectly on organic matter
supplied by photosynthetic primary productivity?
Answer: 99.90%
Page 1
, Question 10: Which of the following nutrients can limit primary productivity by phytoplankton?
Choose all that apply.
Answer: -phosphates -silica -nitrates -iron
Question 11: Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by a neurotoxin produced by _________.
Answer: dinoflagellates
Question 12: Important marine autotrophs that have silica incorporated into their cell walls are:
Answer: diatoms
Question 13: In dead zones resulting from eutrophication, animal life is absent due to the lack of
_________.
Answer: oxygen
Question 14: Why do waters become anoxic in a dead zone?
Answer: Bacteria that decompose the dead algae use up all of the oxygen in the water.
Question 15: Of the following types of organisms, which are examples of microscopic algae? Choose all
that apply. Hints Of the following types of organisms, which are examples of microscopic algae? Choose
all that apply. diatoms coccolithophores kelp dinoflagellates krill
Answer: -diatoms -coccolithophores -dinoflagellates
Question 16: The image is an example of which of the following photosynthetic marine organisms?
Answer: dinoflagellate
Question 17: The image is an example of which of the following photosynthetic marine organisms?
Photograph of a small strand of macroscopic brown colored algae.
Answer: Macrocystis
Question 18: The image is an example of which of the following photosynthetic marine organisms?
Underwater photograph of a macroscopic green colored algae.
Answer: Sponge weed
Page 2
Question 1: The process by which energy derived from solar radiation is used by certain organisms to
form organic matter is called:
Answer: photosynthesis
Question 2: In general, the rate at which energy is stored by organisms through the formation of
organic matter is called:
Answer: primary productivity
Question 3: The euphotic zone in the open ocean extends from the surface down to approximately
________.
Answer: 100 meters
Question 4: Highly productive areas of coastal upwelling are found along the ________ margins of
continents, where surface currents are moving ________ the equator.
Answer: western; toward
Question 5: When compared to coastal regions, solar energy extends ________ into the water column
and concentrations of nutrients are ________ in the open ocean.
Answer: deeper; lower
Question 6: The nutrients that tend to limit photosynthesis in marine environments include:
Answer: b and c are correct
Question 7: The color of light most readily absorbed by water is _________.
Answer: red
Question 8: What characteristic of most of the tropical open oceans is directly responsible for the low
chlorophyll levels in these waters?
Answer: low nutrient concentrations
Question 9: What percent of the ocean's biomass relies either directly or indirectly on organic matter
supplied by photosynthetic primary productivity?
Answer: 99.90%
Page 1
, Question 10: Which of the following nutrients can limit primary productivity by phytoplankton?
Choose all that apply.
Answer: -phosphates -silica -nitrates -iron
Question 11: Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by a neurotoxin produced by _________.
Answer: dinoflagellates
Question 12: Important marine autotrophs that have silica incorporated into their cell walls are:
Answer: diatoms
Question 13: In dead zones resulting from eutrophication, animal life is absent due to the lack of
_________.
Answer: oxygen
Question 14: Why do waters become anoxic in a dead zone?
Answer: Bacteria that decompose the dead algae use up all of the oxygen in the water.
Question 15: Of the following types of organisms, which are examples of microscopic algae? Choose all
that apply. Hints Of the following types of organisms, which are examples of microscopic algae? Choose
all that apply. diatoms coccolithophores kelp dinoflagellates krill
Answer: -diatoms -coccolithophores -dinoflagellates
Question 16: The image is an example of which of the following photosynthetic marine organisms?
Answer: dinoflagellate
Question 17: The image is an example of which of the following photosynthetic marine organisms?
Photograph of a small strand of macroscopic brown colored algae.
Answer: Macrocystis
Question 18: The image is an example of which of the following photosynthetic marine organisms?
Underwater photograph of a macroscopic green colored algae.
Answer: Sponge weed
Page 2
