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Chapter 6

Chapter 6


This activity contains 20 questions.

	One factor in the generation of tides is the gravitational influence of the sun and the moon. Which of the following describes their relative influence?   The effect of the sun is only greater than the moon during the summer. The sun is the major influence. The two bodies have an equivalent effect. The effect varies with the phase of the moon. The effect of the moon is about twice that of the sun.

	Find a World Wide Web site that offers predictions for local tidal cycles (e. g., http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tp4days.html or http://www.saltwatertides.com). Choose a location and note the times of the high and low tides over several days. You will notice that high and low tides do not occur at the same time each day, but appear to be approximately 50 minutes later each day. What does this indicate to you about the nature of the tidal cycle?   The tides from one day delay the tides for the next day. There is an error in the tidal prediction programs. That the fundamental tidal period is not merely a function of the 24-hour period of the earth's rotation. The delay reflects the frictional effect as water moves over the ocean floor. It is the only way to compensate for different time zones.

	Both the times of high and low tide and the amplitude (difference between high and low tide) may vary between locations that are comparatively close. This is due to:   The effect of the local topography on the movement of water. The fact that some areas are directly under the moon. The effect of river outflow in some areas. The fact that the sun–earth–moon system is complex and its influence changes continuously. The alignment of the coastline with the rotation of the Earth.

	When do spring tides occur?   Only in narrow inlets or areas like the Bay of Fundy. In the spring, during the vernal equinox. Twice each lunar month (14 days apart). Due to the inclination of the earth's axis, they only occur in one hemisphere or the other. Immediately, following a neap tide.

	Another name for the intertidal zone is the   supralittoral zone. transition zone. barnacle zone, surge zone. littoral zone.

	The rocky intertidal areas of the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America differ dramatically in terms of species diversity. Which of the following may explain these differences?   There is less temperature variability on the Pacific coast. The Atlantic coast was affected by glacial activity. The Pacific coast is geologically older. Some taxonomic groups (e. g., chitons and limpets) show a much higher species diversity on the Pacific coast. All of the preceeding statements are correct.

	One of the most striking features of the rocky intertidal area is the pattern of zonation seen in the distribution of organisms. Which of the following factors explains zonation?   The degree of exposure to wave action The amplitude of the tidal cycle A complex interaction of physical and biological factors The tolerance of individual species to submergence Tolerance to exposure

	Which of the following may affect New England intertidal communities during winter?   High temperatures Scouring by ice Drifting logs Migratory shorebirds Oil spills

	The main limiting resource in the rocky intertidal zone is   a "home scar". light. nutrients. shelter. space.

	Mussels (e. g., Mytilus) seem capable of dominating many intertidal areas. What often limits mussel dominance?   Tolerance to exposure Competition from barnacles Predation Competition from algae A disease that weakens byssal threads

	The conclusion of studies of the "Pisaster–Mytilus" community of the Pacific coast is that community structure is affected by   interactions among competition, disturbance, predation, and recruitment. competition only. predation only. disturbance only. recruitment only.

	One experimental approach to understanding the intertidal community has been to use cages to control access to portions of the community. Which of the following represents an effective experimental design using cages?   Several cages and a control area A cage and a control area An open cage to test for the physical presence of the cage and a carefully selected control area. Each treatment should be replicated. A cage and an open cage A cage, an open cage, and a control area

	Some intertidal species (e. g., mussels and some algae) can escape predation by   living in dense clumps. moving into crevices. producing chemicals that deter predators. growing to a size greater than the predators can handle. living surrounded by sharp barnacle shells.

	Some intertidal algae deter attacks by herbivores by   producing chemical compounds that are detrimental to the herbivores. growing thorns. forming symbiotic relationships with the predators of the herbivores. secreting large amounts of calcium carbonate. producing "woody" tissues.

	Recent studies of intertidal community ecology have resulted in a concept referred to as "supply side ecology". This refers to the importance of   nutrient availability. larval recruitment. space availability. the number of predators. algal density.

	Studies of succession in intertidal algal assemblages indicate that succession in this community is a combination of which successional models?   Primary and secondary succession. Tolerance and inhibition. Inhibition and facilitation. It has features of all the current successional models. None of them is appropriate because algae do not need soil.

	Beaches appear to be relatively devoid of living organisms because:   The physical factors are too harsh for most species. Most beach residents are small and burrow in the sand. Most of the organisms are restricted to the water line. Organisms only use the beach at high tide. Shorebirds consume a large number of beach species.

	The physical characteristics of a beach are determined by   particle size, wave action, and slope. latitude. exposure to direct wave action. input of organic material. local geological conditions.

	Sand flats are extremely variable and patchy in the distribution of species. This suggests that the sand flat community is affected by   availability of organic material. competition. wave action. oxygen availability. predation and disturbance.

	Sand and muddy shores are actually different points of a continuum that reflects the influence of   temperature. latitude. the relative proportion of deposit and suspension feeders. organic content. exposure to wave activity.

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