Definitions
Plankton
HABs
Mercury
Miscellaneous
*these are all more challenging**
100

What does Phyto mean

Plant 

100

What does plankton mean?

Microscopic organisms that drift in the water

100

What does HAB stand for?

Harmful algal bloom

100

True or False: mercury is toxin that negatively impacts marine environments and the organisms that live there

True

100

How do phytoplankton help with climate change?

they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere = reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere 

200

What does zooplankton mean?

plankton consisting of small animals and the immature stages of larger animals.


200

True or False: without plankton marine ecosystems would collapse

True
200

What environmental factors cause a bloom to occur?

Warm water temperatures, excess sunlight, excess nutrients, calm waters

200
Define bioaccumulation

an introduction and build up of a substance (such as mercury) in the body of a single organism over time

200

What does anthropogenic mean?

Man made/human caused sources

300

What does benthic mean?

Bottom of the ocean/ocean floor
300

What are the two main types of plankton?

Zooplankton and Phytoplankton

300

The algae Ceratium can be most commonly found where?

Monterey Bay, California

300

Define biomagnification

An increase of the concentration of the toxin (mercury) as you move up the food chain

300

What can scientists assume is happening when they observe a HAB occuring?

Nutrients imbalance in the water

400

What does pelagic mean?

open ocean

400
What are holoplankton? Give an example.

organisms that are plankton their whole lives.

examples: jellyfish, copepods, krill

400
True or False: it is more common to see algal blooms happen in the open ocean versus along the shoreline

False

400

List the four big fish that are most commonly known to have the most mercury in their systems.

Sharks, King Mackerel, Swordfish, Tilefish
400

What is the phylum for Dinoflagellates? 

dinoflagellata

500

What does the greek word "planktos" translate to?

drifter

500

What are meroplankton? Give an example.

Organisms that are only plankton for the beginning/larval stages of their life.

Examples: crabs, sea urchins, fish

500

List all 6 ways HABs impact food chains

Direct toxicity, oxygen depletion (hypoxia), blocking sunlight, physical damage, food web disruption, habitat loss

500

Describe the steps it takes for mercury to make its way into the water and to an apex predator like a shark.

Enters the environment through the surrounding soil or atmosphere, turning the water toxic, small organisms (like plankton) absorb that toxin into their bodies, small fish eat the plankton, big fish eat the small fish, sharks eat the big fish

500

What are the two anthropogenic causes of mercury pollution?

Gold mining and coal burning factories