Week 10 notes Barrier Islands and Coastal Bays Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are the names of the two barrier islands along Maryland’s Atlantic coast?

Isle of Wight Island and Assateague National Seashore
Fenwick Island and Assateague Island (correct)
Ocean City Island and National Seashore Island
Assawoman Island and St. Martin Island

What is the approximate total area covered by the barrier islands?

31 miles
31 miles and 14,300 acres
14,300 acres (correct)
2,000 acres

What makes coastal bays ideal for harbors and marine life?

They have higher salinity than the open sea
They provide calmer waters than the open sea (correct)
They are free from marine life predators
They are deeper than the open sea

What likely caused the formation of coastal bays such as Assawoman Bay and St. Martin River in Maryland?

Flooding of stream valleys of major drainage systems (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is eutrophication?

A process that occurs when excess nutrients enter water bodies, leading to large-scale algal blooms (C) Signup and view all the answers

What are the main sources of nutrients that lead to eutrophication?

Wastewater, runoff from developed areas and farms, and atmospheric deposition (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the general benefit of algae in aquatic systems?

A food source for fish (D) Signup and view all the answers

What can excessive algal growth due to eutrophication lead to?

Harmful effects (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the negative effect of hardened shorelines on submerged aquatic vegetation?

Reducing the size, density, and diversity of submerged aquatic vegetation (C) Signup and view all the answers

What natural phenomenon can lead to significant beach erosion?

Nor’easters (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can hurricanes cause in coastal areas?

Overwash (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of rising sea levels due to global warming?

Submergence of environmentally valuable wetlands (B) Signup and view all the answers

How can sediment flowing into coastal bay waters be decreased?

Maintain vegetation (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is an effective method to reduce sediment flowing into coastal bay waters?

Sediment retention mechanisms (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does land use differ for Assateague Island compared to Fenwick Island?

Assateague Island is less developed and primarily used for conservation and recreation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of brown tides in Maryland's coastal ecosystems?

Eutrophication (D) Signup and view all the answers

What contributes to increased sedimentation in Maryland's bay waters?

Riprap and bulkheads (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of channelization in Maryland's coastal areas?

To separate traffic flows from main traffic lanes (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of human activities on seagrass beds in Maryland's coastal ecosystems?

Decreasing due to pollution, dredging, and human activities (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of wetlands in Maryland's coastal ecosystems?

To absorb and store floodwaters (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of hardening shorelines in Maryland's coastal areas?

Replacing natural shorelines with structures like bulkheads and riprap (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of declining populations of black skimmer, common tern, and royal tern in Maryland's coastal ecosystems?

Habitat loss and degradation (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of the northern tip of Assateague Island shifting 700 meters landward?

Due to natural and human-induced factors, including longshore currents and sand transport (B) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Coastal Ecosystems of Maryland: Key Points

Brown tides, caused by eutrophication, can lead to algal blooms, blocking sunlight and causing fish deaths
The beach replenishment project in Ocean City involves dredging 764,000 cubic meters of sand every 4 years
Riprap and bulkheads contribute to increased sedimentation in bay waters
Overwash and washover fans occur during storm events, transporting sediment
Sand fencing and jetties are used to combat beach erosion
Hurricane protection dunes prevent water events from breaching the island
Channelization separates flows of traffic from main traffic lanes
Mosquito ditching is used to control mosquito breeding in wetlands
Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing and storing floodwaters
Seagrass beds are disappearing due to pollution, dredging, and human activities
Ponies and Sika Deer on Assateague Island are descendants of introduced animals and impact the island's ecosystem
Black skimmer, common tern, and royal tern populations are declining due to habitat loss and degradation
The northern tip of Assateague Island shifted 700 meters landward due to natural and human-induced factors, including longshore currents and sand transport. Nutrient and sediment runoff negatively impact Maryland's coastal bays, causing eutrophication and algal blooms. Hardening of shorelines refers to the use of structures like bulkheads and riprap to replace natural shorelines.