Year 11 - Marine Studies - Term 2 - Revision

MARINE SAFETY

100

What does DRSABCD stand for?

Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation

200

What is the safest first aid treatment for a sea snake bite?

Pressure immobilisation bandage, keep still, call 000

300

Name three items every boat should carry for emergencies.

Possible answers:

• EPIRB
• Life jackets
• Flares
• First aid kit
• Radio
• Fire extinguisher

400

A diver is stung by a jellyfish. What should you do immediately?

Answer depends on species:

• Exit water
• Follow first aid procedures
• Vinegar for tropical box jellyfish
• Monitor breathing
• Call emergency services

500

Scenario Question

Your friend steps on a stingray while wading.

Describe the correct first aid procedure.

1. Help the person safely out of the water to prevent drowning or further injury.
2. Call 000 if the injury is severe, there is heavy bleeding, or the barb is deeply embedded.
3. Control any bleeding by applying direct pressure around (not on) the wound if possible.
4. Do not remove the barb if it is still embedded, as this can cause more bleeding and tissue damage.
5. Immerse the injured area in hot water (as hot as can be tolerated, around 45°C) for 30–90 minutes to help relieve pain, ensuring the water is not hot enough to burn the skin.
6. Cover the wound with a clean dressing and seek medical attention, as stingray injuries have a high risk of infection and may require antibiotics, imaging, or surgical removal of fragments.
7. Monitor the person for signs of shock (pale skin, dizziness, rapid breathing) and keep them calm until medical help arrives.

Key point: Unlike snake bites, do not use a pressure immobilisation bandage for a stingray injury. Hot water immersion is the recommended first aid because the venom is heat-sensitive and the wound needs medical assessment.

MARINE ENVIRONMENTS

100

What is an estuary?

An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean. Estuaries are nutrient-rich ecosystems that provide important habitats for many plants and animals, including fish, birds, crustaceans, and mangroves. They also act as nursery areas for many marine species and help filter pollutants from the water.

200

Name three habitats found in Australian coastal waters.

Examples:

• Coral reef
• Mangrove
• Seagrass
• Rocky shore
• Sandy beach

300

Why are mangroves important?

• Nursery habitat

• Protect coastline

• Reduce erosion

• Improve water quality

400

What adaptations allow coral reefs to survive in shallow water?

• Symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae, which live inside coral tissues and produce food through photosynthesis.

• Clear, shallow water allows sunlight to reach the algae, enabling photosynthesis.

• Calcium carbonate skeletons provide support and protection against waves and predators.

• Tentacles with stinging cells (nematocysts) help capture plankton and defend the coral.

• Colony formation allows corals to grow together, creating strong reef structures that can withstand wave action.

500

Explain why seagrass meadows are considered one of Australia's most important ecosystems.

Key reasons include:

• 🌱 Provide nursery habitat for juvenile fish, crabs, prawns and many commercially important species.
• 🐢 Provide food for animals such as turtles and dugongs.
• 🌊 Stabilise sediments, reducing erosion and keeping the water clearer.
• 💨 Improve water quality by trapping sediments and filtering nutrients and pollutants.
• 🌍 Store large amounts of carbon ("blue carbon"), helping reduce climate change.
• 🐟 Support biodiversity by providing habitat for hundreds of marine plants and animals.
• 🎣 Support fisheries by increasing fish populations and sustaining recreational and commercial fishing.

DANGEROUS MARINE CREATURES

100

Which octopus is considered Australia's most venomous?

Blue-ringed octopus

200

What is the difference between a venomous and a poisonous marine organism?

A venomous organism injects toxins through bites, stings or spines, while a poisonous organism causes harm when touched or eaten.

300

Name three symptoms of envenomation from a blue-ringed octopus.

• Numbness or tingling around the mouth and face

• Muscle weakness

• Difficulty breathing

• Paralysis

• Difficulty speaking or swallowing

• Nausea or vomiting

• Blurred vision

• Loss of consciousness (in severe cases)

400

Why are sea snakes often accidentally encountered by fishers?

• Become tangled in nets

• Camouflaged

• Warm shallow water

• Follow prey

500

Compare the dangers posed by:

• Sea snake
• Blue-ringed octopus

Which is more likely to bite humans and why?

Although both are highly venomous, blue-ringed octopuses are more likely to bite humans because they live in shallow coastal habitats where people commonly encounter them and may accidentally disturb or handle them.

HUMANS IN WATER

100

Name one rule before entering the water.

Any one of:

• Complete a buddy check.
• Ensure all equipment fits correctly.
• Listen to the safety briefing.
• Check weather and water conditions.
• Enter the water calmly and only when instructed.
• Never enter the water alone.

200

Why do snorkellers use the buddy system?

The buddy system ensures someone is always available to assist in an emergency, monitor each other's safety, and seek help if a problem occurs.

300

Why is visibility reduced underwater?

Because water bends (refracts) light and absorbs light, making objects appear distorted and reducing visibility.

400

During snorkelling, why is buoyancy important?

Buoyancy helps snorkellers:

• float efficiently
• conserve energy
• maintain a safe body position
• avoid damaging marine environments
• improve control while observing marine life.

500

A diver reports that they:

• couldn't see clearly,
• became exhausted,
• struggled to swim,
• made poor decisions,
• eventually required assistance.

Explain how the properties of water contributed to each of these problems.

• Refraction → reduced visibility

• Drag → increased effort

• Buoyancy changes → movement

• Heat loss → fatigue

• Fatigue → impaired decision making

HUMAN IMPACTS

100

Name one form of marine pollution.

Any one:

• Plastic pollution
• Oil spills
• Chemical pollution
• Sewage
• Agricultural runoff
• Marine debris
• Fishing gear (ghost nets)

200

How does plastic affect marine animals?

Plastic can:

• be mistaken for food
• cause choking
• block the digestive system
• entangle animals
• release harmful chemicals
• damage habitats.

300

Why should people never pick up unknown shells or marine animals?

Because they may:

• be venomous or poisonous
• carry bacteria or parasites
• be protected species
• become stressed or injured
• defend themselves by biting or stinging.

400

Give three ways humans can reduce impacts on marine ecosystems.

Any three:

• Dispose of rubbish correctly.
• Reduce single-use plastics.
• Participate in beach clean-ups.
• Follow fishing regulations.
• Respect marine protected areas.
• Avoid touching marine animals.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen.
• Anchor boats responsibly.

500

Which has the greatest long-term impact on marine ecosystems?

• Plastic pollution
• Climate change
• Overfishing

Support your answer.

Climate change

• Coral bleaching
• Ocean warming
• Sea level rise
• Ocean acidification
• Affects entire ecosystems globally

Overfishing

• Food web collapse
• Loss of biodiversity
• Population declines
• Ecosystem imbalance

Plastic pollution

• Long-lasting debris
• Animal deaths
• Habitat degradation
• Microplastics entering food chains

MARINE INVESTIGATION

100

Why do scientists use scientific names instead of common names?

Scientific names are universal and avoid confusion because common names can vary between regions and countries.

200

Put these taxonomic ranks in the correct order. 

Species
Kingdom
Family
Domain
Phylum
Genus
Class
Order

Domain

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

300

What three pieces of information should be included when describing a marine organism's habitat?

Any three:

• Where it lives
• Environmental conditions
• Preferred habitat
• Water depth
• Temperature
• Reef/estuary/ocean location

400

What are the three things you should explain when analysing a marine incident?

• What happened?

• What factors contributed to the incident?

• How could the incident have been prevented?

500

When evaluating risk management strategies, why is simply listing safety strategies not enough?

• whether the strategy is effective

• why it works

• its limitations

• how it reduces risk

• support their judgement with evidence.