Ocean Geography and Ecology Quiz

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What is the maximum percentage of total oceanic Net Primary Productivity (NPP) attributed to the continental shelf?

20% (correct)
40%
30%
10%

What characterizes the continental slope?

It leads directly to the continental shelf.
It contains features like submarine canyons and gullies. (correct)
It gradually slopes at less than 2m per km.
It is typically 16km wide.

How does the presence of waves and river mouths affect the continental shelf?

It decreases nutrient levels.
It creates greater turbidity. (correct)
It increases light penetration.
It raises salinity in the water.

What is the primary feature that marks the transition from the continental slope to the deepest part of the ocean?

Continental rise (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is mainly transported by rivers and contributes to the nutrient levels on the continental shelf?

Dissolved nutrients (C) Signup and view all the answers

What geological process primarily leads to the formation of mid-ocean ridges?

Divergent plate boundaries (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do the characteristics of fast spreading ridges differ from slow spreading ridges?

Slow spreading ridges present sharp and abrupt features (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of hydrothermal vents in mid-ocean ridge ecosystems?

They support ecosystems independent of organic matter from the surface (D) Signup and view all the answers

What type of lava is primarily associated with eruptions at mid-ocean ridges?

Pillow lava (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which organisms rely on chemical energy from hydrothermal vents for their survival?

Tube worms and blind shrimp (D) Signup and view all the answers

What geological process is primarily responsible for the formation of ocean trenches?

Subduction of tectonic plates (B) Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of ocean trenches distinguishes them from other ocean features?

They are symmetrical and have steep sides. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which adaptation helps organisms to survive in the extreme conditions of ocean trenches?

Bioluminescence for producing light (A) Signup and view all the answers

What are guyots?

Flat-topped mountain peaks that once rose above sea level (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the depths and sediments of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans?

The Pacific has more ocean trenches trapping incoming sediment. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which process allows certain bacteria in ocean trenches to produce organic nutrients?

Chemosynthesis (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate depth of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench?

11,000 meters (C) Signup and view all the answers

The abyssal plains make up what fraction of the Earth's surface?

One-half (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock is predominantly found on the oceanic side of a trench?

Sedimentary (A) Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature marks the center of slowly spreading ridges on the ocean floor?

Rift valleys (A) Signup and view all the answers

Continental Shelf

A gently sloping, underwater extension of a continent, typically less than 200 meters deep. It's where rivers meet the ocean, contributing to lower salinity and high NPP.

Continental Slope

The steep slope that marks the transition between the continental shelf and the abyssal plain. Often carved by underwater canyons.