30 Questions
Which group is responsible for infecting and destroying marine bacteria and controlling the growth of phytoplankton at the base of the marine food web?
Marine viruses
Where are marine viruses typically found?
Deep sea
What is the main function of heterotrophic bacteria?
Break down complex organic matter
Where are heterotrophic bacteria found?
In the food, soil, and water
What is the contribution of marine viruses towards energy flow and nutrient cycling?
Trigger a surge of dissolved organic matter that fuels the growth of surrounding bacteria
What is the main characteristic of heterotrophic bacteria?
Cannot make their own food
What is the main characteristic of marine viruses?
Infect and destroy marine bacteria
What is the main contribution of heterotrophic bacteria towards energy flow and nutrient cycling?
Help in nutrient recycling and decomposition
Which group plays a critical role in the demise of algal blooms?
Marine viruses
What is the main/generic group of marine viruses that infect and destroy marine bacteria and control the growth of phytoplankton?
Bacteriophages
Which group of bacteria can oxidize inorganic substances to produce their food?
Chemosynthetic bacteria
Where are chemosynthetic bacteria found?
All of the above
What is the main function of chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps?
To recycle nutrients
What is nitrogen fixation?
The process of converting nitrogen gas into useful forms
What is the main function of symbiotic bacteria?
To provide energy for their hosts
Where are marine Archaea generally found?
All of the above
What is the main contribution of marine Archaea towards energy flow and nutrient cycling?
Recycling carbon and nitrogen
What is the main characteristic of marine cyanobacteria?
They can manufacture their own food
Which group of bacteria is considered the most abundant photosynthetic organism on Earth?
Prochlorococcus
What is the main characteristic of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria?
They can perform photosynthesis without oxygen
Which group of organisms is responsible for fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonium, a nutrient used by other organisms?
Anoxygenic phototrophs
Which group of organisms are the most productive calcifying organisms on the planet, covering themselves with a calcium carbonate shell?
Coccolithophores
Which group of organisms produce oxygen in marine and freshwater and can form symbiotic relationships with larger animals, including corals?
Dinoflagellates
Which group of organisms are commonly used to map past distributions of the tropics, locate ancient shorelines, and track global ocean temperature changes during the ice ages?
Foraminiferans
Which group of organisms are single-celled organisms that can absorb silica from seawater to form elaborate skeletal structures?
Radiolarians
Which group of organisms are photosynthesizing algae that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis?
Diatoms
Which group of organisms are found in almost every aquatic environment and are estimated to produce 20 to 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe?
Diatoms
Which group of organisms are one-celled plant-like organisms that live in large numbers throughout the upper layers of the ocean and are almost exclusively marine?
Marine fungi
Which group of organisms are found in all aquatic environments and are an important group of phytoplankton that produce oxygen?
Ciliates
Which group of organisms are species of fungi that live in marine or estuarine environments and produce many enzymes that help in maintaining the environmental ecosystem?
Marine fungi
Test your knowledge on marine viruses and their role in the marine ecosystem. Learn about their main characteristics, pigments, where they are found, and their importance in energy flows and nutrient cycling. Challenge yourself to identify the generic groups and understand how these viruses impact marine bacteria.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
