Science test Flashcards
What is the depth range of the aphotic zone?
200 to 4,000 meters
Why are animals in the aphotic zone bioluminescent?
Because there is no light in that zone
What are coral reefs primarily formed by?
Corals
How are barrier reefs characterized?
They are parallel to the shore and separated by water
What shape do atolls have?
Ring-shaped
What is the primary characteristic of fringing reefs?
They form around a landmass
Why are coral reefs referred to as rainforests of color?
Due to their high diversity
What are the main components of a carbon reservoir?
Atmosphere, ocean, land, and sediments
What does the nitrogen cycle ensure?
A continuous supply of nitrogen
What is the process that converts molecular nitrogen into organic nitrogen?
Nitrogen fixing
Where does nitrogen fixing occur?
In the aphotic zone
What is the characteristic of the littoral zone regarding wet and dry cycles?
It has no wet and dry cycle
Where does the littoral zone begin?
At the low tide mark
What is the only living thing in the aphotic zone?
Pelagic bioluminescent animals
What zone is located under the abyssal zone?
The hadal zone
What is the depth range of the hadal zone?
60 meters to the bottom of trenches
What gas is most abundant in the lighted zone?
Oxygen
What does the title refer to regarding life zones and variability?
It indicates the adaptability of organisms
What is the main chemical building block of all living things?
Carbon
What is the most important source of fixing nitrogen?
Cyanobacteria
What happens to narrow ocean bays as one approaches the ocean end?
They become more brackish
What is the term for sections of the ocean that are more and less surrounded by land?
Sea
How does sea water temperature change from the surface to the bottom?
It decreases
