Study Guide for the Marine Bio Belize Exam:
Major Essay Questions:
Be able to diagram (i.e. draw and label) the spatial relationship of the Maya
Mountains, coastal plain, lagoon, barrier reef, and atoll (include underlying geology
and approximate depth of water). Provide a brief explanation for how this geology
came about. Indicate on you diagram where you think corals, mangroves, and
seagrasses might be most common and explain why.
For each ecosystem (coral reef, seagrass, and mangrove), describe major pathways
of energy (i.e. what type of organisms initially acquire the energy coming into that
system, and how is it passed to consumers in higher trophic levels)?
Short answer questions:
How do the gross morphologies of red, black, and white mangrove roots differ?
For the three major growth forms of stony corals, describe each of the growth
forms. Rank these in their structural ability to withstand water movement.
Contrast the motion of water within a wave to that of currents in terms of direction
and depth.
What happens to light as it passes down through the water column? What types of
matter in water affect light transmission?
Describe the major source of nutrients in coastal systems and provide one example
of how excessive nutrients might alter seagrass and coral ecosystems.
How might the elimination of herbivores feeding on macroalgae affect corals?
What is meant by “r” selected, “K” selected, and “A” selected species. Provide a
marine example of each.
Matching Question for Marine Organisms:
Be able to match the taxa on the trophogram with the set of characteristics that
describe that taxon, and with its predominate feeding classification. See example
on following pages:
Matching: In the blank on the left, put the number for the appropriate
invertebrate taxon, and in the blank left of it put the letter for the
appropriate mode of feeding. You may put more than one letter in the
answer for mode of feeding (1 point each)
___ _____ Woody emergent vascular plant
___ _____ Blah, blah, blah…
___ _____ Blah, blah, blah…
___ _____ Blah, blah, blah…
___ _____ Blah, blah, blah…
___ _____ Blah, blah, blah…
Taxa:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
actinarians
ascidians
asteroids
bivalves
cephalopods
crustaceans
ctenophores
echinoids
endosymbionts
errant polychaetes
gastropoda
gorgonians
holothuroids
hydrocorals
macroalgae
mangroves
ophiuroids
phytoplankton
poriferans
sceleractinians
scyphozoans
seagrass
sedentary polychaetes
zooplankton
Feeding guild (i.e. what they consume):
a. sunlight
b. bacteria and suspended organic
molecules
c. phytoplankton
d. zooplankton
e. detritus
f. seagrass and macroalgae
g. macro invertebrates
h. fishes and other invertebrates
Matching: In the blank on the left, put the number for the appropriate
vertebrate taxon, and in the blank left of it put the letter for the
appropriate mode of feeding. You may put more than one letter in the
answer for mode of feeding (2 points each)
___ ___ Diurnal, teleost fishes that display a
dramatic lateral compression with eyes placed
very closely to the extensible, small gape of an
upturned mouth.
___ ___ Blah, blah, blah…
___ ___ Blah, blah, blah…
___ ___ Blah, blah, blah…
___ ___ Blah, blah, blah…
___ ___ Blah, blah, blah…
Taxa:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Elasmobranchs
Beryciformes
Pleuronectiformes
Scorpaeniformes
Tetradontiformes
Hamulidae
Mullidae
Serranidae
Lutjanidae
Sphyraenidae
Carangidae
Chaetodontids
Acanthuroids
Labroids
Testudines
Cetaceans
Feeding guild (i.e. what they consume):
a. sunlight
b. bacteria and suspended organic
molecules
c. phytoplankton
d. zooplankton
e. detritus
f. seagrass and macroalgae
g. macro invertebrates
h. fishes and other invertebrates