AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL BIOMES: CONDITIONS,
BIODIVERSITY, AND HUMAN IMPACTS.
From question to perfection| Study with confidence!
What are the main abiotic conditions that differ between aquatic and terrestrial biomes? -
Answer: Depth, light, temperature, velocity (currents), salinity, oxygen, nutrients (nitrates
and phosphates), suspended matter (silt), bottom substrate, annual average precipitation,
annual average temperature, latitude and altitude, soil type, topography, and wind speed.
Which aquatic biomes have the highest primary productivity and biodiversity? - Answer:
Coral reefs and estuaries.
What is the role of upwellings in aquatic ecosystems? - Answer: Upwellings bring nutrients
from the depths of the ocean to the surface, supporting phytoplankton growth.
What happens to biomass when organisms die in aquatic environments? - Answer: The
biomass sinks to the bottom where decomposers utilize the nutrients.
What are the two main pathways for rainwater in a watershed? - Answer: It either runs
downhill to join a river or its tributaries or percolates through the soil to join groundwater.
What factors influence the flow of rainwater through a watershed? - Answer: Area, length,
slope, soil type, vegetation type, and divides with adjoining watersheds.
What are common sources of pollutants in watersheds? - Answer: Cities, residential areas,
livestock, cropland, and industrial sites.
How can dams contribute to pollution in rivers? - Answer: Dams can inhibit the flow of
sediment along the river, affecting the ecosystem.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 1
, What is bycatch in commercial fishing? - Answer: Bycatch refers to the unintended capture
of non-target species during fishing.
What is the 'tragedy of the commons' in relation to overfishing? - Answer: It describes the
depletion of shared resources, like fish populations, due to unregulated fishing practices.
What are some methods to make fishing more sustainable? - Answer: Implementing catch
limits based on maximum sustainable yield, limiting the age/size of fish caught, and
modifying techniques to reduce bycatch.
What are critical ecosystems in the oceans, and what percentage of marine species do
they support? - Answer: Critical ecosystems cover less than 1% of ocean area but support
25% of marine species.
What is coral bleaching and what causes it? - Answer: Coral bleaching occurs when corals
expel their symbiotic algae due to high temperatures, leading to loss of food supply and
color.
How do excess nutrients from agricultural runoff affect aquatic ecosystems? - Answer:
They promote algal blooms, which, when decomposed, consume dissolved oxygen and
create dead zones.
What are the impacts of oil spills on marine life? - Answer: Oil spills can poison marine
animals, coat feathers and fur, and disrupt entire food chains.
What are the long-term effects of oil spills on coastal economies? - Answer: Oil spills
damage fisheries and impact tourism, real estate, and fishing industries.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 2
BIODIVERSITY, AND HUMAN IMPACTS.
From question to perfection| Study with confidence!
What are the main abiotic conditions that differ between aquatic and terrestrial biomes? -
Answer: Depth, light, temperature, velocity (currents), salinity, oxygen, nutrients (nitrates
and phosphates), suspended matter (silt), bottom substrate, annual average precipitation,
annual average temperature, latitude and altitude, soil type, topography, and wind speed.
Which aquatic biomes have the highest primary productivity and biodiversity? - Answer:
Coral reefs and estuaries.
What is the role of upwellings in aquatic ecosystems? - Answer: Upwellings bring nutrients
from the depths of the ocean to the surface, supporting phytoplankton growth.
What happens to biomass when organisms die in aquatic environments? - Answer: The
biomass sinks to the bottom where decomposers utilize the nutrients.
What are the two main pathways for rainwater in a watershed? - Answer: It either runs
downhill to join a river or its tributaries or percolates through the soil to join groundwater.
What factors influence the flow of rainwater through a watershed? - Answer: Area, length,
slope, soil type, vegetation type, and divides with adjoining watersheds.
What are common sources of pollutants in watersheds? - Answer: Cities, residential areas,
livestock, cropland, and industrial sites.
How can dams contribute to pollution in rivers? - Answer: Dams can inhibit the flow of
sediment along the river, affecting the ecosystem.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 1
, What is bycatch in commercial fishing? - Answer: Bycatch refers to the unintended capture
of non-target species during fishing.
What is the 'tragedy of the commons' in relation to overfishing? - Answer: It describes the
depletion of shared resources, like fish populations, due to unregulated fishing practices.
What are some methods to make fishing more sustainable? - Answer: Implementing catch
limits based on maximum sustainable yield, limiting the age/size of fish caught, and
modifying techniques to reduce bycatch.
What are critical ecosystems in the oceans, and what percentage of marine species do
they support? - Answer: Critical ecosystems cover less than 1% of ocean area but support
25% of marine species.
What is coral bleaching and what causes it? - Answer: Coral bleaching occurs when corals
expel their symbiotic algae due to high temperatures, leading to loss of food supply and
color.
How do excess nutrients from agricultural runoff affect aquatic ecosystems? - Answer:
They promote algal blooms, which, when decomposed, consume dissolved oxygen and
create dead zones.
What are the impacts of oil spills on marine life? - Answer: Oil spills can poison marine
animals, coat feathers and fur, and disrupt entire food chains.
What are the long-term effects of oil spills on coastal economies? - Answer: Oil spills
damage fisheries and impact tourism, real estate, and fishing industries.
APPHIA – Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence. 2
