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Zone Definitions
True or False
Organisms in the Epipelagic
Food Web
Mystery
100
What is the area of the water column that extends from the surface down to about 200 meters (650 feet)
What is Epipelagic Zone
100
True or False. The neritic portion of the epipelagic zone will have a shallower or deeper photic zone than the oceanic portion of the epipelagic.
What is True. Due to increased sediment from the continental shelf, the water clarity is poorer compared to the deeper areas of the ocean in the photic zone.
100
What organisms are so productive that they not only produce enough food for themselves but for other in their own and other communities
What is phytoplankton
100
True or False. The epipelagic zone contains the most food
What is True!
100
What name is given to planktonic organisms that live right on the surface of the ocean water?
What is Neuston, like the Man-of-War
200
This is a layer of the ocean that overlaps the Epipelagic zone and represents the layer of the ocean's surface where light is able to penetrate and photosynthesis happens
What is Photic Zone
200
True or False. There are more deposit feeders in the epipelagic zone than suspension feeders.
What is False. There is not a bottom to the epipelagic zone, therefore there are a great many more suspension feeders when compared to deposit feeders.
200
Microplankton once too small to be captured in plankton nets include the ____________, ________________ and _____________________
What is nanoplankton, ultraplankton and picoplankton
200
Where does the detritus of epipelagic zone go? (Remember detritus is organic matter from fecal pellets of zooplankton and other animals)
What is It sinks down into layers below for use by organisms living there.
200
Name two methods of protection by nektonic organisms in the epipelagic zone
What is countershading, coloration, vertical banding and the ability to swim away
300
The photic zone is divided into two areas worldwide. What is the name of the layer that covers the part of the ocean NOT resting over the continental shelf
What is Oceanic Zone
300
True or False. Phytoplankton produce 50% of the oxygen in the earth's atmosphere
What is True
300
These nitrogen fixing bacterial occur in the epipelagic areas where nutrients are not in abundance because they can "fix" or use nitrogen from the air. Hint, they are a type of picoplankton
What is Cyanobacteria
300
What does the acronym DOM stand for
What is Dissolved Organic Matter
300
What is the process of organisms' daily movement between the photic zone and the lower depths
What is vertical migration
400
The photic zone is divided into two areas worldwide. What is the name of the layer that covers the part of the ocean resting over the continental shelf
What is Neritic Zone
400
True or False. Most zooplankton are strict herbivours.
False. many zooplankton are carnivorous, eating only other zooplankton- animals :)
400
This single celled spherically shaped organism, whose size places it in the nanoplankton group, are covered with armor like plates.
What is Coccolithophores
400
Name some factors affecting primary production in the ocean that were mentioned in the text
What is temperature, sunlight, availability of nutrients like phosphorus, tilt of the earth and upwelling
400
This annual phenomenon causing epipelagic primary production changes, affecting the food web and difficulties for fishing industries
What is El Nino
500
As you know the ocean is layered. We know that warm water floats above cooler, denser water. The name of the "line" separating the two is the
What is Thermocline
500
Ture or False. Organisms that swim against the current are known as planktonic
What is False, they are known as nektonic
500
Phytoplankton are a primary food source for this group of organisms found in the epipelagic zone. Double Point Bonus: What are the most abundant zooplankton group in the epipelagic
What is Zooplankton/ Copepods
500
Explain any portion of the Epipelagic food web
What is Protozoa,and phytoplankton produce DOM; protozoa eat bacteria and phytoplankton; bacteria eat DOM; zooplankton eat phytoplankton, small nekton eat zooplankton, large nekton eat small nekton. (Tuna eats a sardine who eats a zooplankton like a krill, who eats a phytoplankton who produces DOM which feeds bacteria.
500
What does the acronym ENSO stand for?
What is El Nino Southern Oscillation