ESCI 204 FINAL EXAM |QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS 100%|GRADE A+|LATEST 2024/2025
Why are there so many species of phytoplankton even though they seem to be
competing for similar
limiting resources? - ✔✔- phytoplankton have different resource requirements and
environmental tolerances
- resources are more complex and are always changing
- ex. - conditions change so rapidly that species A will do better one day then
maybe species B will do better the next and so on
- spatial and temporal variation
Describe why small phytoplankton cells are better (nutrient use, population
growth, rate of sinking) - ✔✔Small phytoplankton are more efficient at nutrient
and light acquisition
Grow faster
Sink slower because of their size
Why is Puget Sound so productive? - ✔✔• Perfect combination of mixing
(delivering nutrients) and stratification
(keeping plankton near the light)
, -uneven sills allows for areas of mixing where nutrients are injected and areas of
stratification
• Estuarine circulation and flushing
How can one estimate phytoplankton per capita population growth rate and the per
capita grazing rate by microzooplankton by use of the dilution technique? -
✔✔Dilution method: Pt = P0 e(µ ‐ gD)t
Divide by Po, take logarithm, divide by t:
ln(Pt/P0)/t = ‐ gD + µ
[ y = mx + b ]
ln(Pt/P0)/t = prey apparent growth rate (d‐1)
µ = prey specific growth rate, d‐1 (dilution independent)
g = community grazing rate, d‐1 (dilution dependent)
D = dilution
Why do zooplankton perform diel vertical migration?
What are the implications of this migration on
nutrient and carbon transport in the open ocean? - ✔✔Cue: Light levels
SOLUTIONS 100%|GRADE A+|LATEST 2024/2025
Why are there so many species of phytoplankton even though they seem to be
competing for similar
limiting resources? - ✔✔- phytoplankton have different resource requirements and
environmental tolerances
- resources are more complex and are always changing
- ex. - conditions change so rapidly that species A will do better one day then
maybe species B will do better the next and so on
- spatial and temporal variation
Describe why small phytoplankton cells are better (nutrient use, population
growth, rate of sinking) - ✔✔Small phytoplankton are more efficient at nutrient
and light acquisition
Grow faster
Sink slower because of their size
Why is Puget Sound so productive? - ✔✔• Perfect combination of mixing
(delivering nutrients) and stratification
(keeping plankton near the light)
, -uneven sills allows for areas of mixing where nutrients are injected and areas of
stratification
• Estuarine circulation and flushing
How can one estimate phytoplankton per capita population growth rate and the per
capita grazing rate by microzooplankton by use of the dilution technique? -
✔✔Dilution method: Pt = P0 e(µ ‐ gD)t
Divide by Po, take logarithm, divide by t:
ln(Pt/P0)/t = ‐ gD + µ
[ y = mx + b ]
ln(Pt/P0)/t = prey apparent growth rate (d‐1)
µ = prey specific growth rate, d‐1 (dilution independent)
g = community grazing rate, d‐1 (dilution dependent)
D = dilution
Why do zooplankton perform diel vertical migration?
What are the implications of this migration on
nutrient and carbon transport in the open ocean? - ✔✔Cue: Light levels
