BSC 1005 Unit 2 Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Why are coral reefs considered "extreme"? (5 things) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Largest
structures ever built by living organisms
2. Greater biodiversity than in any other marine system
3. Complexity of interdependent interactions
4. Their beauty
5. Vulnerability to abuse by human hands
Why are coral reefs practical for the people who live near them? - CORRECT ANSWER -
They protect coastlines from damage by storm waves
Between what latitudes are most coral reefs found? - CORRECT ANSWER - 25 degrees N
and 25 degrees S
What are some resources provided by coral reefs? (6 things) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.
Fish/shellfish
2. Aquarium fishes/corals
3. Curios/shells
4. Decorative materials such as turtle shell, pearls, & black coral
5. Calcium carbonate pure enough for medicinal uses
6. Pharmaceutically useful chemicals
How do coral reefs benefit less economically developed countries? - CORRECT
ANSWER - with nature-based tourism
What materials from coral reefs are commonly used as building materials? - CORRECT
ANSWER - chunks of coral limestone and sand generated from broken corals
,Where do coral reefs thrive? - CORRECT ANSWER - clear, tropical waters
What temperature do corals that build coral reefs require? - CORRECT ANSWER -
temperatures above 20 degrees C
What type of water makes coral unable to produce? - CORRECT ANSWER - water in
areas with seasonally cold upwelling water
What type of water makes coral stressed to the point of dying? - CORRECT ANSWER -
water that is warmer than usual due to currents, wind-pattern changes, El Nino and global
warming
Why is sunlight required for the growth of coral? - CORRECT ANSWER - the single-
celled algae they house require light
What organism have corals made a mutually beneficial relationship with? - CORRECT
ANSWER - the tiny, single-celled algae they house in their tissue
In what depth of water are corals found and why? - CORRECT ANSWER - Shallow
because they need light to penetrate the water
What is the maximum depth of coral growth? - CORRECT ANSWER - 50 meters
What blocks the passage of light and prevents the growth of corals? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Sediment and other particles
What happens with sediment shifting on the surfaces? - CORRECT ANSWER - disrupts
the normal feeding and light collection of corals
What should the salinity of the water for coral reefs be? - CORRECT ANSWER - around
35 parts per thousand
, Why can't coral reefs exist near river mouths? - CORRECT ANSWER - because outflows
of large rivers carry heavy sediment loads off the land and dilute the seawater
True or false: vigorous water movement is beneficial for coral reefs. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
Why is vigorous water movement good for coral reefs? (3 things) - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Ensures that the water is well oxygenated
2. Helps keep sediment from lingering on the surfaces of corals and smothering them
3. Brings fresh supplies of plankton for the corals to feed on
Why is vigorous water movement bad for coral reefs (e.g. during storms)? - CORRECT
ANSWER - strong waves can break and overturn corals and batter them with resuspended
sediment
What creates the initial architecture of reefs? - CORRECT ANSWER - the large, hard
skeletons of corals
What are coral skeletons made of? - CORRECT ANSWER - calcium carbonate
Where is the living coral tissue located and how thick is it? - CORRECT ANSWER -
millimeters thin, located all over the surface
What animal group do corals belong to? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cnidarians
What other animals are in the cnidarian group? - CORRECT ANSWER - sea anemones,
hydras, jellyfish
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Why are coral reefs considered "extreme"? (5 things) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Largest
structures ever built by living organisms
2. Greater biodiversity than in any other marine system
3. Complexity of interdependent interactions
4. Their beauty
5. Vulnerability to abuse by human hands
Why are coral reefs practical for the people who live near them? - CORRECT ANSWER -
They protect coastlines from damage by storm waves
Between what latitudes are most coral reefs found? - CORRECT ANSWER - 25 degrees N
and 25 degrees S
What are some resources provided by coral reefs? (6 things) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1.
Fish/shellfish
2. Aquarium fishes/corals
3. Curios/shells
4. Decorative materials such as turtle shell, pearls, & black coral
5. Calcium carbonate pure enough for medicinal uses
6. Pharmaceutically useful chemicals
How do coral reefs benefit less economically developed countries? - CORRECT
ANSWER - with nature-based tourism
What materials from coral reefs are commonly used as building materials? - CORRECT
ANSWER - chunks of coral limestone and sand generated from broken corals
,Where do coral reefs thrive? - CORRECT ANSWER - clear, tropical waters
What temperature do corals that build coral reefs require? - CORRECT ANSWER -
temperatures above 20 degrees C
What type of water makes coral unable to produce? - CORRECT ANSWER - water in
areas with seasonally cold upwelling water
What type of water makes coral stressed to the point of dying? - CORRECT ANSWER -
water that is warmer than usual due to currents, wind-pattern changes, El Nino and global
warming
Why is sunlight required for the growth of coral? - CORRECT ANSWER - the single-
celled algae they house require light
What organism have corals made a mutually beneficial relationship with? - CORRECT
ANSWER - the tiny, single-celled algae they house in their tissue
In what depth of water are corals found and why? - CORRECT ANSWER - Shallow
because they need light to penetrate the water
What is the maximum depth of coral growth? - CORRECT ANSWER - 50 meters
What blocks the passage of light and prevents the growth of corals? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Sediment and other particles
What happens with sediment shifting on the surfaces? - CORRECT ANSWER - disrupts
the normal feeding and light collection of corals
What should the salinity of the water for coral reefs be? - CORRECT ANSWER - around
35 parts per thousand
, Why can't coral reefs exist near river mouths? - CORRECT ANSWER - because outflows
of large rivers carry heavy sediment loads off the land and dilute the seawater
True or false: vigorous water movement is beneficial for coral reefs. - CORRECT
ANSWER - True
Why is vigorous water movement good for coral reefs? (3 things) - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Ensures that the water is well oxygenated
2. Helps keep sediment from lingering on the surfaces of corals and smothering them
3. Brings fresh supplies of plankton for the corals to feed on
Why is vigorous water movement bad for coral reefs (e.g. during storms)? - CORRECT
ANSWER - strong waves can break and overturn corals and batter them with resuspended
sediment
What creates the initial architecture of reefs? - CORRECT ANSWER - the large, hard
skeletons of corals
What are coral skeletons made of? - CORRECT ANSWER - calcium carbonate
Where is the living coral tissue located and how thick is it? - CORRECT ANSWER -
millimeters thin, located all over the surface
What animal group do corals belong to? - CORRECT ANSWER - Cnidarians
What other animals are in the cnidarian group? - CORRECT ANSWER - sea anemones,
hydras, jellyfish
