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Quiz by g.s.bilotta, created more than 1 year ago

This is a revision session for the University of Brighotn's GY327 module 'Freshwater Processes and Ecosystems'. The revision session is comprised of a set of 39 multiple-choice questions. These are designed to stimulate your memory in order to prepare you for longer essay-style questions. In the examination for this module (worth 60% of the module grade) you will be required to answer two essay questions out of a choice of six. All essay questions carry equal marks.

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	Created by g.s.bilotta almost 10 years ago

GY327 Freshwater Processes and Ecosystems_Revision Session

Each question in this quiz is timed.

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Question 1 of 38

What salinity classified freshwater?

Select one of the following:

<1 mg L-1
<100 mg L-1
<1000 mg L-1

Explanation

Question 2 of 38

What are the three dominant ions in freshwater?

Select one of the following:

Mg, CaCO3, HCO3
Mg, Na, Ca
Mg, Na, Cl

Explanation

Question 3 of 38

What percentage of Earth's water is defined as being freshwater?

Select one of the following:

0.25 %
2.5%
25 %

Explanation

Question 4 of 38

What term best describes ‘all the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact; a community and its’ physical environment’ ?
Campbell and Reece, 2002)

Select one of the following:

Niche
Biosphere
Ecosystem

Explanation

Question 5 of 38

Which of these sets of definitions distinguishes correctly between the terms phytoplankton and periphyton?

Select one of the following:

Periphyton are free-floating plants/algae, that are suspended in the water column.
Phytoplankton are algae that are attached to substrates such as rocks (epitlithic phytoplankton) and larger plants/macrophytes (epiphytic phytoplankton)
Phytoplankton are free-floating plants/algae, that are suspended in the water column.
Periphyton are algae that are attached to substrates such as rocks (epitlithic periphyton) and larger plants/macrophytes (epiphytic periphyton)

Explanation

Question 6 of 38

The term ‘Lotic’ describes which of the following categories of water?

Select one of the following:

Standing waters
Ephemeral waters
Flowing waters

Explanation

Question 7 of 38

What are the seven general challenges of living in freshwater environments?

Select one of the following:

Respiration, Productivity, Reproduction, Ontogeny, Feeding, Emersion, Diffusion
Respiration, Physical forces, Reproduction, Osmoregulation, Feeding, Emersion, Dispersal
Respiration, Photosynthesis, Reproduction, Oncology, Feeding, Emersion, Disposal

Explanation

Question 8 of 38

Suggest 4 reasons why oxygen availability is more variable in freshwater ecosystems than marine systems or the atmosphere?

Select one of the following:

High volume ecosystems = high buffering capacity
Low surface area to volume ratio = small temperature fluctuations (affect 02 dissolving/diffusion rate).
Variable organic loading = low microbial oxygen demand
High photosynthetic oxygen production
Small volume ecosystems = High buffering capacity
High surface area to volume ratio = wide temperature fluctuations (affect 02 dissolving/diffusion rate).
Low organic loading = high microbial oxygen demand
High photosynthetic oxygen production
Small volume ecosystems = low buffering capacity
High surface area to volume ratio = wide temperature fluctuations (affect 02 dissolving/diffusion rate).
Variable organic loading = variable microbial oxygen demand
Variable photosynthetic oxygen production

Explanation

Question 9 of 38

Freshwater ecosystems are geographically isolated and temporally impermanent. What effect does each of these characteristics have on the number of species present?

Select one of the following:

Spatial isolation increases speciation. Temporal impermanence decreases speciation.
Spatial isolation decreases speciation. Temporal impermanence increases speciation.

Explanation

Question 10 of 38

What is anhydrobiosis and name an organism that can perform it?

Select one of the following:

Anhydrobiosis means life without water. It is a form of desiccation resistance that some vertebrates exhibit (African lungfish).
Anhydrobiosis means life without water. It is a form of desiccation resistance that some invertebrates exhibit (tardigrades, rotifers, chironimids).
Anhydrobiosis means life without water. It is a form of desiccation resistance that some algae exhibit.

Explanation

Question 11 of 38

What are the two main differences between lakes and ponds?

Select one of the following:

Lakes tend to be bigger and are mixed primarily through atmospheric turbulence (wind). Ponds tend to be smaller and are mixed primarily through thermal convection currents.
Lakes tend to be bigger and are mixed primarily through thermal convection currents. Ponds tend to be smaller and are mixed primarily through atmospheric turbulence (wind).

Explanation

Question 12 of 38

Distinguish between the terms plankton and benthos?

Select one of the following:

Benthos are the organisms that spend the majority of their time in the water column. Plankton are the organisms that spend the most of their time in the bed sediments (lake or river).
Plankton are the organisms that spend the majority of their time in the water column. Benthos are the organisms that spend the most of their time in the bed sediments (lake or river).
Plankton are the organisms that spend the majority of their time in the subsurface environments. Benthos are the organisms that spend the most of their time in the bed sediments (lake or river).

Explanation

Question 13 of 38

The availability of light influences the distribution of plants and animals within a lake. What is the name given to the depth at which only 1 % of the incoming light remains (i.e the boundary between the photic and aphotic zone)?

Select one of the following:

The critical depth
The boundary depth
The compensation depth

Explanation

Question 14 of 38

Who developed a conceptual model known as the ‘River Continuum Concept’ that describes the longitudinal changes in physical, chemical and biological composition along a river?

Select one of the following:

Vannote et al (1980)
Begon et al (1980)
Townsend et al (1980)

Explanation

Question 15 of 38

What is meant by the term ‘allocthonous’?

Select one of the following:

Energy or matter derived from within the freshwater ecosystem (e.g. phytoplankton and fungal spores)
Energy or matter derived from outside of the freshwater ecosystem (e.g. terrestrial leaf fall into a river; bat guano in a cave)

Explanation

Question 16 of 38

What term best describes ‘subsurface water that occurs beneath the watertable in soils and geologic formations that are fully saturated’?
(Freeze and Cherry, 1979)

Select one of the following:

Hyporheos
Soil water
Groundwater

Explanation

Question 17 of 38

How do the temperature/thermal conditions differ in subsurface environments compare to terrestrial environments?

Select one of the following:

Subsurface thermal regimes are more stable than their terrestrial counterparts; they are warmer than the terrestrial minimum, but cooler than the terrestrial maximum.
Subsurface thermal regimes are more variable than their terrestrial counterparts; they are cooler than the terrestrial minimum, but warmer than the terrestrial maximum.
Subsurface thermal regimes are identical to their terrestrial counterparts

Explanation

Question 18 of 38

There are two main groups of subsurface dwelling organisms (hypogeans). These are stygophiles and stygobites. Which group show specific adaptations to living in subsurface environments?

Select one of the following:

Stygophile
Stygobite

Explanation

Question 19 of 38

Where on the R-K-A selection continuum might you expect stygobites to be positioned?

Select one of the following:

Stygobites are R-selected species; they are adapted to high resource availability but environmental variability
Stygobites are K-selected species; they are adapted to high resource availability and environmental constancy
Stygobites are A-selected species; they are adapted to poor resource availability but environmental constancy

Explanation

Question 20 of 38

What is an ephemeral waterbody?

Select one of the following:

A temporary waterbody
A waterbody on the fringe of a catchment
An isolated waterbody

Explanation

Question 21 of 38

Name 5 ways in which humans disturb the physical characteristics of freshwater ecosystems?

Select one or more of the following:

Thermal discharges from industrial processes
Suspended sediment pollution from increased soil erosion from agricultural fields
Straightening river channels
Damming river channels
Removing native species of invertebrates
Introducing non-native species of invertebrates
Abstracting water for agricultural, domestic and industrial uses

Explanation

Question 22 of 38

For what reasons are river channels straightened?

Select one of the following:

To decrease the speed of removal of flood waters in order to protect land/properties.
To abandon land and impede drainage.
To impede navigability for vessels.
To increase the speed of removal of flood waters in order to protect land/properties.
To reclaim land and improve drainage.
To improve navigability for vessels.

Explanation

Question 23 of 38

What management system is in place in England and Wales, as part of the EU Water Framework Directive, to prevent the negative impacts of over-abstraction from freshwater environments?

Select one of the following:

Catchment Abstraction Drainage System (CADS).
Catchment Abstraction Management System (CAMS).
Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS)

Explanation

Question 24 of 38

Why is water temperature so important for many freshwater organisms?

Select one or more of the following:

Water temperature is important to freshwater organisms because most freshwater organisms are poikilothermic- their internal body temperature is controlled by the environmental temperature, therefore their rate of metabolism also changes with changing external temperatures.
Many freshwater organisms rely on thermal cues for certain stages within their life-cycle, disruption to thermal regimes can have significant detrimental impacts on the populations of species.
Many freshwater organisms obtain their oxygen directly from the water. Dissolved oxygen availability decreases with increasing water temperature, thus warming temperatures can lead to hypoxic conditions.

Explanation

Question 25 of 38

What legislation is in place across Europe in order to protect freshwater ecosystems?

Select one of the following:

EU Freshwater Fisheries Directive
EU Shellfisheries Directive
EU Water Framework Directive

Explanation

Question 26 of 38

What plant nutrient is most commonly the limiting nutrient in freshwater ecosystems?

Select one of the following:

Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium

Explanation

Question 27 of 38

What term describes the trophic status of a water body where phosphorus concentrations are in the range of 30-100 µg L-1?

Select one of the following:

Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Eutrophic

Explanation

Question 28 of 38

Which of the following are potential sources of heavy metals in freshwater environments?

Select one or more of the following:

Oil spills
Combustion of fossil fuels
Metal works/industry
Mining/quarrying
Waste incineration
Sewage sludge disposal
Waste landfill sites
Military firing ranges

Explanation

Question 29 of 38

Who is responsible for monitoring the water quality of freshwaters in Scotland?

Select one of the following:

Environment Agency
European Environment Agency
Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Explanation

Question 30 of 38

What are the two main ways in which humans directly disturb the biological characteristics of freshwater ecosystems?

Select one or more of the following:

Introduction of non-native invasive species
Physical disturbance of the habitat
Chemical pollution of the habitat
Removal of native species through fishing and harvesting

Explanation

Question 31 of 38

What is the name of this non-native (to the UK) invasive plant?

Select one of the following:

Hogweed
Himalayan balsam
Giant Hogweed

Explanation

Question 32 of 38

Which of the following can be used to successfully control and eradicate populations of the plant identified in Q31?

Select one or more of the following:

Mechanical control (cutting/mowing) for 18 months, ensuring that no new seeds are produced during that period.
Chemical control (glycophosphate or 24D-amine), for 18 months, ensuring that no new seeds are produced during that period.
Biological control (grazing by non-specific livestock), for 18 months, ensuring that no new seeds are produced during that period.
Environmental control (maintenance of a dense grass sward on river banks), for 18 months, ensuring that no new seeds are produced during that period.

Explanation

Question 33 of 38

What is the main mechanism through which Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus lenisculus) has its deletory impact on the native white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes)?

Select one or more of the following:

Competition
Predation
Disease

Explanation

Question 34 of 38

This species provides an example of how removal of native species can influence an ecosystem. What is the name of this fish?

Select one or more of the following:

European lamprey
European eel

Explanation

Question 35 of 38

Name the main sampling method used to sample benthic invertebrates under the EU Water Framework Directive?

Select one of the following:

Kick sample
Surber sampler
Grab sample

Explanation

Question 36 of 38

Which of the following are common methods used to sample fish populations as part of EU Water Framework Directive assessments?

Select one or more of the following:

Seine netting
Electrofishing
Mark re-capture

Explanation

Question 37 of 38

What is the name of the method used by the Environment Agency to survey the hydromorphological aspects of a river?

Select one or more of the following:

River Ecosystem Survey
Riverine Environmental Impact Assessment
River Habitat Survey

Explanation

Question 38 of 38

Which of the following environments are protected by the EU Water Framework Directive?

Select one or more of the following:

Freshwater surface waters (rivers, streams and lakes)
Freshwater groundwaters
Brackish estuaries
Marine waters out to one mile from the low water mark.

GY327 Freshwater Processes and Ecosystems_Revision Session

GY327 Freshwater Processes and Ecosystems_Revision Session

Question 1 of 38

What salinity classified freshwater?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 2 of 38

What are the three dominant ions in freshwater?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 3 of 38

What percentage of Earth's water is defined as being freshwater?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 4 of 38

What term best describes ‘all the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact; a community and its’ physical environment’ ? Campbell and Reece, 2002)

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 5 of 38

Which of these sets of definitions distinguishes correctly between the terms phytoplankton and periphyton?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 6 of 38

The term ‘Lotic’ describes which of the following categories of water?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 7 of 38

What are the seven general challenges of living in freshwater environments?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 8 of 38

Suggest 4 reasons why oxygen availability is more variable in freshwater ecosystems than marine systems or the atmosphere?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 9 of 38

Freshwater ecosystems are geographically isolated and temporally impermanent. What effect does each of these characteristics have on the number of species present?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 10 of 38

What is anhydrobiosis and name an organism that can perform it?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 11 of 38

What are the two main differences between lakes and ponds?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 12 of 38

Distinguish between the terms plankton and benthos?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 13 of 38

The availability of light influences the distribution of plants and animals within a lake. What is the name given to the depth at which only 1 % of the incoming light remains (i.e the boundary between the photic and aphotic zone)?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 14 of 38

Who developed a conceptual model known as the ‘River Continuum Concept’ that describes the longitudinal changes in physical, chemical and biological composition along a river?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 15 of 38

What is meant by the term ‘allocthonous’?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 16 of 38

What term best describes ‘subsurface water that occurs beneath the watertable in soils and geologic formations that are fully saturated’? (Freeze and Cherry, 1979)

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 17 of 38

How do the temperature/thermal conditions differ in subsurface environments compare to terrestrial environments?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 18 of 38

There are two main groups of subsurface dwelling organisms (hypogeans). These are stygophiles and stygobites. Which group show specific adaptations to living in subsurface environments?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 19 of 38

Where on the R-K-A selection continuum might you expect stygobites to be positioned?

Select one of the following:

Explanation

Question 20 of 38

What is an ephemeral waterbody?

What term best describes ‘all the organisms in a given area as well as the abiotic factors with which they interact; a community and its’ physical environment’ ?
Campbell and Reece, 2002)

What term best describes ‘subsurface water that occurs beneath the watertable in soils and geologic formations that are fully saturated’?
(Freeze and Cherry, 1979)