OCE HW Chapter 11 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?

Bioaccumulation refers to the buildup of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism. Biomagnification refers to the concentration of impurities as animals are eaten and the impurity is passed through food chains.

According to the figure, which organism has the highest concentration of DDT in their tissue due to biomagnification?

The osprey would have the highest concentration of DDT in its tissues.

How many times more concentrated is the DDT in the osprey compared to the water?

8,333,333 times higher than the concentration in the water.

If you wanted to avoid the effects of biomagnification of certain marine pollutants, such as methylmercury, which organism would you want to avoid consuming?

Mako shark Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is/are responsible for releasing oil into the ocean? (Choose all that apply)

Purposeful release by humans Signup and view all the answers

Where did the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill occur?

Prince William Sound. Signup and view all the answers

How much oil was released by the Deepwater Horizon spill?

2.4 million gallons per day for more than three months. Signup and view all the answers

What caused the Deepwater Horizon spill?

Natural gas explosion. Signup and view all the answers

What is currently the largest oil spill in recorded history?

Intentional release during the Persian Gulf War. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following items is/are illegal to dump within 3 miles of the shore? (Choose all that apply)

Metal, ground to less than 1 inch Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following items is/are illegal to dump within 3 to 12 miles of the shore? (Choose all that apply)

Plastic, ground to less than 1 inch Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following materials is/are illegal to dump anywhere in the ocean?

Plastic. Signup and view all the answers

What percent of marine debris is composed of plastic?

80%. Signup and view all the answers

Why is plastic debris such a big problem in the ocean? (Choose all that apply)

Plastics float and are not readily biodegradable Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the cleanup of oil spills? (Choose all that apply)

Cleaning up oil spills is difficult Signup and view all the answers

What happens after a surface oil spill? (Choose all that apply)

Photooxidation occurs Signup and view all the answers

What causes emulsification of an oil slick?

Evaporation of the lighter components in the oil. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are by-products of an oil slick? (Choose all that apply)

Mousse Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding the causes of oil and natural (methane) gas seeps and spills is/are correct? (Choose all that apply)

Some natural (methane) gas is released into the atmosphere via natural gas seeps on the ocean floor Signup and view all the answers

What type of scale does the vertical, or y, axis use in this chart?

Logarithmic. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the danger levels of mercury poisoning? (Choose all that apply)

It is considered a 'possible hazard' to eat small quantities of fish if methylmercury concentrations in the fish are high Signup and view all the answers

How does mercury get into the ocean? (Choose all that apply)

Improper disposal of batteries Signup and view all the answers

How does methylmercury make its way up the food chain?

Phytoplankton to zooplankton to small fish to big fish. Signup and view all the answers

Why do fish in Minamata Bay have such high methylmercury concentrations?

Methylmercury-laden wastewater was intentionally released into the ocean. Signup and view all the answers

Why was DDT intentionally released into the environment?

It was applied in swamps to kill mosquitos that spread malaria. Signup and view all the answers

When was DDT banned in the United States?

<ol start="1972"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Why is DDT still a concern today, even though it has been banned in the United States for decades? (Choose all that apply)

It is very toxic Signup and view all the answers

What is the concentration of DDT in seawater?

0.000003 parts per million. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following process(es) explain why DDT concentrations in predators such as osprey or bald eagles are higher than the DDT concentrations in their prey? (Choose all that apply)

Biomagnification Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation: Accumulation of substances (e.g., toxic chemicals) in an organism's tissues over time.
Biomagnification: Increase in concentration of toxins as they move up the food chain.

DDT Concentration in Organisms

The osprey has the highest concentration of DDT in tissues, at 8,333,333 times higher than that in water.

Marine Pollutants to Avoid

To reduce exposure to methylmercury, avoid consuming shark species like mako due to biomagnification.

Sources of Oil in Oceans

Oil enters oceans through:
- Purposeful human release
- Ship transport spills
- Offshore drilling leaks
- Natural oil seeps

Notable Oil Spills

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound.
The Deepwater Horizon spill released 2.4 million gallons of oil daily for over three months due to a natural gas explosion.
The largest recorded oil spill happened during the Persian Gulf War.

Regulations on Ocean Dumping

Illegal to dump within 3 miles of shore:
- Ground metal, food, glass, dunnage, and plastic (all ground to less than 1 inch).
Illegal to dump within 3 to 12 miles:
- Ground plastic and dunnage.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic comprises 80% of marine debris.
Issues with plastic:
- Photodegrades into ingestible small pieces.
- Absorbs toxins, poisoning marine life.
- Causes entanglement in marine organisms.
- Not readily biodegradable.

Oil Spill Cleanup Challenges

Cleanup can create new hazards, is difficult, and expensive.
After an oil spill, an oil slick forms, leading to photooxidation and emulsification.

Emulsification Process

Caused by the evaporation of lighter oil components, resulting in products like mousse and tarballs.

Natural Gas and Oil Release

Natural gas seeps occur through ocean floor emissions and surface oil photooxidation.
Oil slicks can result from both natural seeps and human spills.

Mercury Poisoning Levels

Eating large amounts of fish with high methylmercury concentrations is considered an extreme danger.
Smaller quantities with high mercury levels pose a possible hazard; low levels are usually considered safe.

Sources of Mercury in Oceans

Mercury enters oceans through:
- Industrial runoff.
- Improper battery disposal.
- Fossil fuel burning.

Methylmercury in the Food Chain

Moves from phytoplankton to zooplankton to small fish to big fish.

Minamata Bay Case

Fish in Minamata Bay have high methylmercury due to the release of contaminated wastewater into the ocean.

DDT Usage and Concerns

DDT was used to control mosquitos in swamps to prevent malaria.
Banned in the U.S. since 1972, yet still present in oceans and highly toxic.

DDT in the Environment

Concentration of DDT in seawater is at 0.000003 parts per million.
DDT-related concerns include:
- Longevity in the environment.
- Low amounts having significant negative impacts on marine life.

Processes Increasing DDT in Predators

Higher DDT concentrations in predators like osprey and bald eagles due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

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Test your understanding of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in marine ecosystems with these flashcards from Chapter 11. This quiz will help you distinguish between the concepts and understand their implications in food chains.