STUDY GUIDE Chapters 15 Castro & Huber
Recommendations to follow:
1.
Answers are thought to be short in most of the cases
2.
Try as much as you can to connect the terms and understand the association between some of the concepts, to get
the whole picture about the topic. Memorizing alone can give you probably around a 70/100 in the exam, , but some
questions always require to connect two or more ideas to come up with a short and precise answer.
3.
If you know most of these review questions you should do fine in the test, questions in the test will be variations of
the same themes covered in these questions.
Chapter 15: Life Near the Surface
1. “epi” means “above” and “pelagic” means “open water”, so this is the community living on the top part of
the open ocean, above the oceanic crust that lies some 12,000 feet down. What is the limit in depth for the
epipelagic realm? What is used to establish this limit?
2. What are the unique features of the pelagic realm?
3. What is the main producer in the epipelagic ecosystem?
4. The two types of biological communities in this ecosystem are the nekton and the plankton. Review the
definition for each one
5. What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton?
6. How are picoplankton and nanoplankton different to “rest” of the plankton.
7. Considering the size of the phytoplanktonic organisms, what type of phytoplankton is responsible for most
of the photosynthesis in the open ocean?
8. Explain the differences between a red tide and a “spring bloom”. Explain the problems associated with
harmful red tides
9. Define “eutrophication”. Why does it happen? What the ultimate result for the biological community when
eutrophication takes place?
10. List the four main types of herbivore zooplankton
11. Protozoans are unicellular heterotrophic organisms, why are these tiny organisms important in the
epipelagic community?
12. What are the two main crustaceans, members of the zooplankton, which inhabit the epipelagic? Which one
predominates in most parts of the ocean, reaching 70% of the community? Which one is dominant in cold
regions like Antarctica?
13. Salps and larvaceans are included in the same taxonomic phylum than you and me: Chordata. Why are
larvaceans important in the epipelagic?
14. What is the difference between holoplankton and meroplankton? Give examples of organisms that belong
to each type
Marine Biology
Instructor: Dr. Jose Bava
STUDY GUIDE Chapters 15 Castro & Huber
15. The word “planktivorous” refers to animals of the nekton (active swimmers) that feed on plankton. They
are ranked from small to really big animals. Name some of them.
16. Organisms that cannot swim have two basic strategies to stay afloat: they increase their water resistance so
they sink slower, or they make themselves more buoyant so they tend not to sink. Name the possible
adaptations inside each of these categories (there are at least 4 in each category)
17. Explain ALL the possible adaptations that preys and predators may have in order to survive in the
epipelagic, a) Body shape (1), b) Sense organs (4), c) Coloration and camouflage (3)
18. Explain the difference between schooling and shoaling? Mention the reasons why these behaviors may be
helpful for small fish
19. Phytoplankton needs light and nutrients in order to make photosynthesis. Which of these is generally the
limiting factor in the epipelagic? Explain the seasonal patterns depending on the latitude considered
20. Define the process of “upwelling”.
21. Explain the three types of upwellings and the places in the world where they take place.
Marine Biology
Instructor: Dr. Jose Bava