Invertebrate Zoology Exam 1
Questions with Complete Answers
Why are the largest invertebrates/vertebrates found in the ocean? - Answer-
Buoyancy helps with the problem of support
What are the 3 variables that prohibit uniform distribution? - Answer-light penetration,
water depth and availability of nutrients
light penetration - Answer-seas are stratified into upper lighted and deeper dark layer
water depth - Answer-coastal areas are very shallow; continental shelf extends
seaward until a water depth of 200M then the sea floor drops away rapidly to abyssal
plains
As water depth increases... - Answer-pressure increase and temperature decreases,
which makes survival more difficult
availability of nutrients - Answer-coastal areas are very productive because of
external nutrients being washed into the sea; the further from the coast, the less
nutrient dense it becomes
horizontal marine zones - Answer-neritic and oceanic
neritic zone - Answer-includes zone of continental shelf (200M depth), intertidal zone
(covered by high tides) and supra tidal zone (above tide line)
oceanic zone - Answer-all marine areas away from the shore where the water's
depth exceeds 200M
Vertical strata - Answer-includes the euphotic zone and aphotic zone
euphotic zone - Answer-lighted stratum, exceeds downward to a point where only
one percent of the total light remains, no photosynthesis is possible
aphotic zone - Answer-total and continuous darkness; permanent inhabitants include
carnivores, suspension or detritus feeders; includes the bathyal region, abyssal
region and hadal region
bathyal region - Answer-oceanic zone down to 2000M
abyssal region - Answer-2000-6000M
hadal region - Answer-exceeds 6000M to the trenches
Life forms in marine environment - Answer-pelagic fauna and benthic fauna
, pelagic fauna - Answer-found in open water, include nekton and plankton
nekton - Answer-swimming animals
plankton - Answer-become food for other organisms, suspended animals
benthic fauna - Answer-bottom dwellers; include epifauna and infauna
epifauna - Answer-bottom dwellers that live on the surface
infauna - Answer-bottom dwellers that live beneath the surface
intertidal zones - Answer-areas off shoreline affected by tide; very rich and diverse in
animal life
estuaries - Answer-costal bays, tidal marshes, strongly affected by tides; essentials
to the economy of sea's biota- serve as nursery grounds
lentic habitats - Answer-ponds, lakes and swamps
lotic habitats - Answer-running waters
What is the primary control factor of lakes? - Answer-temperature
Temperature of fresh water - Answer-fluctuates a lot; little circulation, bottom is
colder than top
Oxygen of fresh water - Answer-warm water holds less O2, water movement in rivers
will enhance the dissolution of O2
Transparency of fresh water - Answer-penetration of light is limited by suspended
particles, runoff and erosion make it turbid
Why is land the harshest environment? - Answer-it is the most variable and extreme
in terms of several physical conditions
Temperature of land - Answer-variations are more greatly pronounced
Land experiences water loss by... - Answer-evaporation
How does land provide little mechanical support? - Answer-air offers little support,
water provides buoyancy
Waste of terrestrial animal - Answer-urea or uric acid (less toxic, requires less water
for removal)
waste of aquatic animals - Answer-ammonia- soluble in water and toxic, requires
large quantities of water to dilute or remove from the body
Questions with Complete Answers
Why are the largest invertebrates/vertebrates found in the ocean? - Answer-
Buoyancy helps with the problem of support
What are the 3 variables that prohibit uniform distribution? - Answer-light penetration,
water depth and availability of nutrients
light penetration - Answer-seas are stratified into upper lighted and deeper dark layer
water depth - Answer-coastal areas are very shallow; continental shelf extends
seaward until a water depth of 200M then the sea floor drops away rapidly to abyssal
plains
As water depth increases... - Answer-pressure increase and temperature decreases,
which makes survival more difficult
availability of nutrients - Answer-coastal areas are very productive because of
external nutrients being washed into the sea; the further from the coast, the less
nutrient dense it becomes
horizontal marine zones - Answer-neritic and oceanic
neritic zone - Answer-includes zone of continental shelf (200M depth), intertidal zone
(covered by high tides) and supra tidal zone (above tide line)
oceanic zone - Answer-all marine areas away from the shore where the water's
depth exceeds 200M
Vertical strata - Answer-includes the euphotic zone and aphotic zone
euphotic zone - Answer-lighted stratum, exceeds downward to a point where only
one percent of the total light remains, no photosynthesis is possible
aphotic zone - Answer-total and continuous darkness; permanent inhabitants include
carnivores, suspension or detritus feeders; includes the bathyal region, abyssal
region and hadal region
bathyal region - Answer-oceanic zone down to 2000M
abyssal region - Answer-2000-6000M
hadal region - Answer-exceeds 6000M to the trenches
Life forms in marine environment - Answer-pelagic fauna and benthic fauna
, pelagic fauna - Answer-found in open water, include nekton and plankton
nekton - Answer-swimming animals
plankton - Answer-become food for other organisms, suspended animals
benthic fauna - Answer-bottom dwellers; include epifauna and infauna
epifauna - Answer-bottom dwellers that live on the surface
infauna - Answer-bottom dwellers that live beneath the surface
intertidal zones - Answer-areas off shoreline affected by tide; very rich and diverse in
animal life
estuaries - Answer-costal bays, tidal marshes, strongly affected by tides; essentials
to the economy of sea's biota- serve as nursery grounds
lentic habitats - Answer-ponds, lakes and swamps
lotic habitats - Answer-running waters
What is the primary control factor of lakes? - Answer-temperature
Temperature of fresh water - Answer-fluctuates a lot; little circulation, bottom is
colder than top
Oxygen of fresh water - Answer-warm water holds less O2, water movement in rivers
will enhance the dissolution of O2
Transparency of fresh water - Answer-penetration of light is limited by suspended
particles, runoff and erosion make it turbid
Why is land the harshest environment? - Answer-it is the most variable and extreme
in terms of several physical conditions
Temperature of land - Answer-variations are more greatly pronounced
Land experiences water loss by... - Answer-evaporation
How does land provide little mechanical support? - Answer-air offers little support,
water provides buoyancy
Waste of terrestrial animal - Answer-urea or uric acid (less toxic, requires less water
for removal)
waste of aquatic animals - Answer-ammonia- soluble in water and toxic, requires
large quantities of water to dilute or remove from the body
