C18 The Ocean and the Environment PDF

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True / False 1. Human demand has exceeded Earth's ability to regenerate resources. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-1 An Introduction to Marine Environmental Issues LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-1-1 - Identify the point at which human demand began to exceed Earth's ability to regenerate resources. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Human demand has exceeded Earth’s ability to regenerate resources since at least the early 1980s. Since 1961, human demand on Earth’s organisms and raw materials has more than doubled and now exceeds Earth’s natural replacement capacity by at least 20%. 2. Approximately 70% of discarded plastic sinks to the bottom of the ocean. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEOCEA.GARR.16.18-2-8 - Analyze the negative effects of plastics on marine life. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Not all plastic floats. Around 70% of discarded plastic sinks to the bottom. In the North Sea, Dutch scientists have counted around 110 pieces of litter for every square kilometer of the seabed, about 600,000 metric tons in the North Sea alone. 3. Spills of refined oil are generally larger in volume than those of crude oil. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-4 - Compare and contrast the environmental effects of a crude oil spill in the open ocean and a refined oil spill near shore. Bloom’s: Remember OTHER: NOTES: Spills of crude oil are generally larger in volume and more frequent than spills of refined oil. Spills of refined oil are of growing concern because the amount of refined oil transported to the United States rose dramatically through the 1980s and 1990s. 4. An organism's response to a particular pollutant will depend solely on its sensitivity to the quantity of that pollutant. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-2 - Describe how the terms quantity, toxicity, and persistence relate to pollutants. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: In most cases, an organism’s response to a particular pollutant will depend on its sensitivity to the combination of quantity and toxicity of that pollutant. Some pollutants are toxic to organisms in tiny concentrations. 5. Some pollutants are able to persist in the environment for thousands of years.

a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-2 - Describe how the terms quantity, toxicity, and persistence relate to pollutants. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Pollutants also vary in their persistence; some reside in the environment for thousands of years, while others last only minutes. 6. The methods used to contain and clean up an oil spill sometimes cause more damage than the oil itself. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-5 - Discuss methods used to contain the oil released from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and outline the mechanisms by which the oil underwent natural biodegradation. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The methods used to contain and clean up an oil spill sometimes cause more damage than the oil itself. Detergents used to disperse oil are especially harmful to living things. Mechanical cleanup techniques can disrupt natural ecosystems. 7. Exotic species can reduce the biodiversity of their new habitats. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-3 Organisms Cannot Prosper if Their Habitats are Disturbed LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-3-2 - Define the term introduced species, and describe how these species can disrupt natural ecosystems. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Foreign organisms (introduced species or exotic species) sometimes outcompete native species and reduce biological diversity in their new habitats. New marine diseases can also be introduced in this way. Even canals and fishery enhancement projects can introduce potentially destabilizing new species. 8. Refined oil is usually less toxic than crude oil and typically has a shorter cleanup process. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-4 - Compare and contrast the environmental effects of a crude oil spill in the open ocean and a refined oil spill near shore. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Components added to oil during the refining process make it more toxic to organisms and natural cleaning processes take a proportionally longer time to complete. 9. Bioaugmentation is the concentration of toxic substances in the flesh of marine organisms at higher levels in the food chain.

a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-7 - Explain how biomagnification is especially hazardous to animals at the top of the food chain. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The level of synthetic organic chemicals in seawater is usually very low, but some organisms at higher levels in the food chain can concentrate these toxic substances in their flesh. This biomagnification is especially hazardous to top carnivores in a food web. 10. Halogenated hydrocarbons are some of the most abundant and dangerous synthetic organic compounds found in marine waters. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-6 - Summarize the toxic synthetic organic chemicals that enter the ocean, and discuss their impacts on humans and natural wildlife. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Halogenated hydrocarbons are a class of synthetic hydrocarbon compounds that contain chlorine, bromine, or iodine and are some of the most abundant and dangerous synthetic organic compounds in seawater. 11. Plastic eventually biodegrades. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEOCEA.GARR.16.18-2-8 - Analyze the negative effects of plastics on marine life. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Scientists estimate that some kinds of plastic materials will not completely decompose for about 400 years. Unlike oil, plastic does not biodegrade. 12. Toxins on microfine pieces of plastic debris have been suggested as a possible reason for the decline in phytoplankton over the past 25 years. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-11 - Propose possible reasons for the decline in phytoplankton productivity in the past 25 years. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: A possible reason for the decline in phytoplankton is the chemical disruption caused by microfine plastic debris. These tiny bits tend to attract oily toxic residues. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, more toxins are concentrated on the plastic debris and plastic particles than in ambient seawater. 13. The U.S. Gulf Coast is one of the most polluted bodies of water on Earth.

a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-3 Organisms Cannot Prosper if Their Habitats are Disturbed LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-3-1 - Identify the sources of pollution to bays and estuaries, and discuss the impacts on the natural habitats of these regions. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The U.S. Gulf Coast is one of the most polluted bodies of water on Earth. Estuaries and bays along the Gulf are being severely stressed by the pollution in that region. 14. Over the past century, ocean acidity has gradually decreased. a. True b. False ANSWER: False REFERENCES: 18-3 Organisms Cannot Prosper if Their Habitats are Disturbed LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-3-3 - Discuss natural and anthropogenic dangers to coral reefs. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Over the past 200 years, the ocean has taken up about 35% of the excess carbon dioxide generated by the burning of fossil fuels. Ocean surface acidity has increased by nearly 30% since the 17th century. Average oceanic pH has fallen by 0.025 units since the early 1990s and is expected to drop to pH 7.8 by 2100. 15. The global temperature trend has been generally upward since the last ice age, but the rate of increase has recently accelerated. a. True b. False ANSWER: True REFERENCES: 18-5 Earth's Climate is Changing LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-5-1 - Describe the greenhouse effect, and explain how it can be both necessary and detrimental to life on Earth. NOTES: The surface temperature of Earth varies slowly over time. The global temperature trend has been generally upward in the 18,000 years since the last ice age, but the rate of increase has recently accelerated. This rapid warming is probably the result of an enhanced greenhouse effect, the trapping of heat by the atmosphere. Multiple Choice 16. What is hypoxia? a. The increase of carbon dioxide in an area b. The depletion of free oxygen in an area c. The depletion of nutrients in an area d. The increase of nitrogen in an area e. The increase of free oxygen in an area ANSWER: b REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-9 - Examine the causes and effects of eutrophication in nearshore waters, and describe how hypoxia is a threat to fish. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Hypoxia refers to the depletion of the free oxygen content of surface water. Hypoxia is one of

the effects of eutrophication in which excessive nutrients cause blooms of organisms that deplete the water's oxygen content through respiration. In nearshore waters, hypoxia is now thought to cause more mass fish deaths than any other single agent, including oil spills. It is the leading threat to commercial shellfisheries. 17. Which of the following is both a natural pollutant and a human-generated pollutant in the world ocean? a. plastics b. halogenated hydrocarbons c. chlorinated hydrocarbons d. PCBs e. oil ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-1 - Define marine pollution, and illustrate with examples of both natural and anthropogenic pollutants. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Oil is a natural part of the marine environment. Oil seeps have been leaking large quantities of oil into the sea for millions of years. Natural seeps are the largest source of oil in the ocean. The amount of oil entering the sea has increased in recent years, however, because of our growing dependence on marine transportation for petroleum products, offshore drilling, nearshore refining, and street runoff carrying waste oil from automobiles. 18. How long does it take for many plastics to decompose? a. 50 years b. 100 years c. 250 years d. 400 years e. 800 years ANSWER: REFERENCES: LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OTHER: NOTES:

d 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated OCEOCEA.GARR.16.18-2-8 - Analyze the negative effects of plastics on marine life. Bloom’s: Remember The attributes that make plastic items useful to consumers, such as their durability and stability, also make them a problem in marine environments. Scientists estimate that some kinds of synthetic materials will not completely decompose for about 400 years.

19. How long do most forms of marine life require to recover from a crude oil spill? a. 2 years b. 5 years c. 7 years d. 10 years e. 20 years ANSWER: b REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-4 - Compare and contrast the environmental effects of a crude oil spill in the open ocean and a refined oil spill near shore. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember

NOTES:

Though crude oil spills look terrible and generate great media attention, most forms of marine life in an area recover from the effects of a moderate spill within about 5 years. Spills of refined oil, especially near shore where marine life is abundant, can be more disruptive for longer periods of time.

20. What is the largest source of oil in the ocean? a. Marine transportation b. Runoff from city streets c. Natural oil seeps d. Waste oil dumped down drains e. Concentrated oil spills (from tankers, storage facilities, drilling platforms) ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-3 - List the sources of oil that have infiltrated the oceans. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Oil is a natural part of the marine environment. Oil seeps have been leaking large quantities of oil into the sea for millions of years. Natural seeps are the largest source of oil in the ocean. 21. Who is generally credited with beginning the environmental movement? a. Charles Darwin b. Edward Ricketts c. Rachel Carson d. Jared Diamond e. Sylvia Earle ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-6 - Summarize the toxic synthetic organic chemicals that enter the ocean, and discuss their impacts on humans and natural wildlife. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: Rachel Carson, author of the influential 1962 book Silent Spring on the misuse of synthetic pesticides. This work is generally credited with beginning the environmental movement in the United States. 22. Which of the following is a biodegradable pollutant? a. mercury b. plastic c. arsenic d. glass e. crude oil ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-1 - Define marine pollution, and illustrate with examples of both natural and anthropogenic pollutants. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Many pollutants are ultimately biodegradable in that they can be broken down by natural processes into simpler compounds. Other contaminants, such as plastics and heavy metals, are not biodegradable. Crude oil is ultimately biodegradable.

23. What describes the increased concentration of toxic chemicals in the higher trophic levels? a. bioaugmentation b. biotransformation c. bioconversion d. biodegradation e. biomagnification ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-7 - Explain how biomagnification is especially hazardous to animals at the top of the food chain. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The level of synthetic organic chemicals in seawater is usually very low, but some organisms at higher levels in the food chain can concentrate these toxic substances in their flesh. This biomagnification is especially hazardous to top carnivores in a food web. 24. What has been attributed to the declining fertility of seals and sea lions off the California coast? a. DDT b. refined oil spills c. PCBs d. CFCs e. mercury ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-7 - Explain how biomagnification is especially hazardous to animals at the top of the food chain. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The concentration in marine organisms of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), fluids once widely used to cool and insulate electrical devices and to strengthen wood or concrete, may be responsible for the behavior changes and declining fertility of some populations of seals and sea lions on islands off the California coast. 25. What areas are typically the most affected by eutrophication? a. Estuaries b. Open ocean c. Deep ocean d. Continental rise e. Offshore sediments ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-9 - Examine the causes and effects of eutrophication in nearshore waters, and describe how hypoxia is a threat to fish. NOTES: Eutrophication stimulates the growth of some species to the detriment of others, destroying the natural biological balance of an ocean area. The extra nutrients come from wastewater treatment plants, factory effluent, accelerated soil erosion, or fertilizers spread on land. They usually enter the ocean from river runoff and are particularly prevalent in estuaries. 26. What is one of the effects of eutrophication? a. Heavy metal toxicity b. Not enough nutrients causes dead zones

c. Too much oxygen in the water causes fish kills d. Very low concentrations of phytoplankton e. Stimulates the growth of some species to the detriment of others, destroying the natural balance of an area ANSWER: e REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-9 - Examine the causes and effects of eutrophication in nearshore waters, and describe how hypoxia is a threat to fish. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Eutrophication is a set of physical, chemical, and biological changes that take place when excessive nutrients are released into the water. Too much fertility can be as destructive as too little. Eutrophication stimulates the growth of some species to the detriment of others, destroying the natural biological balance of an ocean area. 27. What is the largest source of marine pollution to the world ocean? a. Runoff from land and city streets b. Spills from tankers c. Transportation d. Drilling platforms e. Air pollutants ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-3 - List the sources of oil that have infiltrated the oceans. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: About 30% of total marine pollution comes from sewage (runoff from land and city streets); 20% from farm runoff; 20% from air pollutants; 10% from marine transportation; and 5% from offshore oil drilling. 28. What is the leading threat to commercial shellfisheries? a. oil spills b. PCBs c. hypoxia d. mercury e. plastics ANSWER: c REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-9 - Examine the causes and effects of eutrophication in nearshore waters, and describe how hypoxia is a threat to fish. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES: Stimulation of high organism growth due to eutrophication can deplete the free oxygen content of surface water, causing hypoxia. In nearshore waters, hypoxia is now thought to cause more mass fish deaths than any other single agent, including oil spills. It is the leading threat to commercial shellfisheries. 29. Which pollutant accumulates in gyres in the ocean? a. refined oil b. plastics c. PCBs d. chlorinated hydrocarbons

e. mercury ANSWER: REFERENCES: LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OTHER: NOTES:

b 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated OCEOCEA.GARR.16.18-2-8 - Analyze the negative effects of plastics on marine life. Bloom’s: Remember Dumped overboard from ships or swept to sea in flooding rivers, plastic debris is everywhere. In the open ocean, plastics tend to collect in gyres where water slowly circulates in a spiral and winds are light. The currents tend to move floating debris into the low-energy center of the gyre.

30. What is the biggest export from the Port of New York going to Asia? a. waste b. oil c. appliances d. automobiles e. electronics ANSWER: a REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEOCEA.GARR.16.18-2-8 - Analyze the negative effects of plastics on marine life. OTHER: Bloom’s: Remember NOTES: The Japanese currently recycle about 50% of their solid waste and are importing even more; scrap metal and waste paper headed for Asia are the two biggest exports from the Port of New York. Americans are buying back their own refuse in the form of appliances, automobiles, and the cardboard boxes that hold their MP3 players and smart phones. 31. Whatis the most likely consequence of fewerphytoplankton in the world ocean? a. More carbon dioxide uptake b. Less carbon dioxide uptake c. More oxygen release d. More nitrogen uptake e. More oxygen uptake ANSWER: b REFERENCES: 18-2 Marine Pollutants May Be Natural or Human-Generated LEARNING OBJECTIVES: OCEA.GARR.16.18-2-11 - Propose possible reasons for the decline in phytoplankton productivity in the past 25 years. OTHER: Bloom’s: Understand NOTES...