Benthos

Question 1

Macro algae colours

Answer 1

Brown, red and green

Question 2

Examples of vascular plants

Answer 2

Mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass

Roots, shoots and flowers

Question 3

Where does eelgrass grow

Answer 3

In temperate water

Question 4

Where does turtle grass grow

Answer 4

In tropical waters

Question 5

What is a rhizome system and how does this benefit seagrass meadows

Answer 5

Plant stems send out roots and shoots from its plant nodules.
Reduce turbulence.
Traps fine sediment.
Shoots obtain CO2 from the water column.
Expands the beds.

Question 6

Which 2 factors do seagrass meadows require for growth

Answer 6

High light.

Moderate current.

Question 7

Describe the food web in a seagrass meadow

Answer 7

Seagrass feed detritus —>
Detritus feeds primary consumers (small and large herbivores) —>
Primary consumers feed carnivores

Question 8

Describe the physical features of kelp

Answer 8

Pneumatocysts.
Fronds/blades.
Stipe.
Holdfast.

Question 9

Why is it advantageous for kelp to be flexible

Answer 9

Because they’re less likely to be damaged by strong ocean currents

Question 10

The 3 zonations in a kelp forest

Answer 10

Canopy.
Understory.
Algal turf.

Question 11

What conditions do kelp forests grow in

Answer 11

Exposed locations.

At great depths.

Question 12

What regions do kelp forests grow in and why

Answer 12

Temperate and sub polar regions.

Cold upwelling regions, very nutrient rich water.

Question 13

What factors will reduce coastal upwelling

Answer 13

Decelerated wind speed.

Elevated sea level.

Question 14

What is the Coriolis effect

Answer 14

Causes surface water to be deflected to the right in the N hemisphere and to the left in the S hemisphere

Question 15

List some of the consequences caused by El Niño

Answer 15

Droughts.
Floods.
High surf areas.
Crashes of fisheries.
Seal and marine iguana deaths.
Sea lion deaths.

Question 16

What effect does a thicker upper-ocean layer have on the American coast

Answer 16

It stops nutrient rich water from upwelling

Question 17

How does southern oscillation alter jet streams

Answer 17

Increased ocean heat into the atmosphere increases cloud formation — which alters the jet stream and increases precipitation

Question 18

Factors that decline the kelp population

Answer 18

Reduced upwelling
Higher temperatures - increases mortality
Severe storms - increases kelp bed erosion

Question 19

Effects of La Niña

Answer 19

Trade winds increase.
South equatorial current speeds up.
Upwelling of cool water and nutrients increases.
Surface water off of Peru and California cools down.

Question 20

How do diploid sporophytes reproduce

Answer 20

Release spores which settle onto the sea floor.
Sperm from male gametophyte fertilises eggs from female gametophyte.
Produces a diploid sporophyte.