Energy Sources in Aquatic Ecosystems

Question 1

What are the two types of energetic resources found in aquatic systems?

Answer 1

Autochthonous and allocthonous

Question 2

This type of resource is found within the body of water

Answer 2

Autochthonous

Question 3

These are not as major primary producers in aquatic systems as they are in terrestrial systems

Answer 3

Plants

Question 4

Aquatic food webs are primarily based on these primary producers

Answer 4

Algae/diatoms

Question 5

These are incredibly important single-celled protists found in aquatic systems

Answer 5

Diatoms

Question 6

What percent of global carbon fixation is done by diatoms?

Answer 6

20%

Question 7

What are diatom shells called?

Answer 7

Frustrule

Question 8

What are diatom frustrules made of?

Answer 8

Silica (SiO2)

Question 9

What are three functions of diatom frustrules?

Answer 9

Protection, light absorption, distinctive shape

Question 10

Diatoms are relatives of this type of algae

Answer 10

Brown algae

Question 11

Are diatoms closely related to plants?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

How many valves are frustrules made of?

Answer 12

2

Question 13

What is one of the best ways to ID a diatom?

Answer 13

By its frustrule

Question 14

Are both frustrule valves the same size?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

Do diatoms occasionally discard their frustrules?

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

What is a human use of fossilized diatom frustrules?

Answer 16

Diatomaceous earth

Question 17

Are diatoms relatively poorly competitive photosynthesizers?

Answer 17

No

Question 18

What is the limiting substance for diatom growth in the water?

Answer 18

Silica

Question 19

What are four types of algae that serve as primary producers in aquatics?

Answer 19

Blue-green algae, red algae, brown algae, green algae

Question 20

Which type of algae are bacteria?

Answer 20

Blue-green algae

Question 21

Which three types of algae are protists?

Answer 21

Red, brown, green algae

Question 22

Algae growing on rocks are known as this

Answer 22

Periphyton

Question 23

Algae found in the water column are known as this

Answer 23

Phytoplankton

Question 24

These algae were the first and best to ever make oxygen

Answer 24

Blue-green algae

Question 25

Blue-green algae can form these, though they are not multicellular

Answer 25

Long chains

Question 26

Blue-green algae chains have one different cell, known as this

Answer 26

Heterocyst

Question 27

Blue-green algae heterocysts are very important to this part of the nitrogen cycle

Answer 27

Nitrogen fixation

Question 28

Blue-green algae can produce this during harmful algal blooms

Answer 28

Neurotoxin

Question 29

This type of algae grows on rocks

Answer 29

Epilithon

Question 30

This type of algae grows on plants

Answer 30

Epiphyton

Question 31

This type of algae grows on wood

Answer 31

Epidendron

Question 32

This type of algae grows on sediment

Answer 32

Epipelon

Question 33

This type of algae grows on sand

Answer 33

Episammon

Question 34

This type of algae grows on animals

Answer 34

Epizoon

Question 35

Different types of algae grow together to form these

Answer 35

Biofilms

Question 36

What are three processes that biofilms are resistant to?

Answer 36

Loss, abrasion, disruption

Question 37

Biofilms can form this to catch food particles and prevent them from washing away

Answer 37

Sticky matrix

Question 38

Biofilms can be thought of as the aquatic version of these

Answer 38

Forests

Question 39

Aquatic plants are also known as these

Answer 39

Macrophytes

Question 40

Most freshwater plants tend to be this type of plant

Answer 40

Angiosperm/flowering plant

Question 41

Is pollination easy in aquatic systems?

Answer 41

No

Question 42

What are four reasons why pollination is difficult for aquatic plants?

Answer 42

1. Seeds get washed downstream; 2. Pollinators are less able to get to open water; 3. Flowers are difficult to support out of water for wind pollination to be effective; 4. Sediment is an unstable growing medium

Question 43

What are five limitations on plants in aquatic systems?

Answer 43

Light, water velocity, settlement rate, other macrophytes, pH

Question 44

What are four things that do not limit plants in aquatic systems?

Answer 44

Water, CO2, nutrients, herbivory

Question 45

When are plants important to aquatic systems?

Answer 45

When conditions are relatively 'good'

Question 46

What are two important sources for food webs in aquatic systems?

Answer 46

Algae (mostly diatoms) and tree leaves

Question 47

This type of resource is found outside the body of water

Answer 47

Allocthonous

Question 48

This is made up of decomposing organic matter suspended in water

Answer 48

Particulate organic matter (POM)

Question 49

This type of particulate organic matter is made up of large matter, such as whole leaves

Answer 49

Coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM)

Question 50

This type of particulate organic matter is made up of large matter that has been shredded down to smaller matter

Answer 50

Fine particulate organic matter (FPOM)

Question 51

This type of organic matter has been reduced to soluble size

Answer 51

Dissolved organic matter (DOM)

Question 52

Evolution has produced solutions to processing these when they regularly fall into the water

Answer 52

Leaves

Question 53

These leach out from dead leaves into the water within 2 days

Answer 53

Soluble nutrients

Question 54

These two types of organisms colonize dead leaves in the water immediately

Answer 54

Bacteria and fungi

Question 55

These invertebrates begin to break up dead leaves in the water at around 2 weeks

Answer 55

Shredders

Question 56

This ratio can vary considerably among leaves in the water

Answer 56

C:N ratio

Question 57

What are three different terms for woody debris found in streams

Answer 57

Large woody debris (LWD), coarse woody debris (CWD), large organic debris (LOD)

Question 58

What are five effects of wood on stream systems?

Answer 58

1. Food source; 2. Influences stream morphology; 3. Decreases water velocity; 4. Traps sediment; 5. Creates habitat

Question 59

What is another name for a wood-eating organism?

Answer 59

Xylivores

Question 60

Is wood an easily-accessed source of nutrients?

Answer 60

No

Question 61

This substance makes wood difficult to digest

Answer 61

Lignin

Question 62

Do most organisms that eat wood eat other materials as well?

Answer 62

Yes

Question 63

These organisms are extremely important to aquatic systems

Answer 63

Terrestrial insects

Question 64

Can terrestrial insects alone support stream fishes?

Answer 64

Yes

Question 65

How do terrestrial insects link aquatic and terrestrial systems?

Answer 65

By bringing nutrients onto land from their aquatic larval stages or into water via predation by fish

Question 66

Some fish can link freshwater systems with these systems

Answer 66

Marine systems

Question 67

Can fish move nutrients around within a system?

Answer 67

Yes

Question 68

Are most migratory species of fish thriving today?

Answer 68

No

Question 69

Are fish highly important to nutrient inputs?

Answer 69

No