Chapter 15—Coral Reef Communities
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Coral reefs are an example of biological organisms that can:
a.
alter the temperature.
b.
moderate global warming.
c.
form the physical structure of the community.
d.
regulate water run-off.
2. Cnidarians of the class ____ are responsible for building coral reefs.
a.
Anthozoa
b.
Hydrozoa
c.
Cubozoa
d.
Scyphozoa
e.
Palyzoa.
3. The optimum temperature for coral formation occurs where the average annual temperatures are
between ____ C and ____ C.
a.
18, 20
b.
20, 23
c.
23, 25
d.
25, 27
e.
30, 40
4. Coral reefs form in areas where seawater temperatures average no less than:
a.
10° C.
b.
18° C.
c.
30° C.
d.
40° C.
e.
45° C.
5. The west coast of Africa and South America in the tropics do not support corals. Which of the
following would likely prevent coral growth in these areas?
a.
cool northern flowing currents
b.
cool upwelling water
c.
depth of 25 meters
d.
both a and b
6. The lack of corals near the mouths of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers is primarily due to:
a.
cool northern flowing currents.
b.
cool upwelling water.
c.
massive fresh water out-flow.
d.
clear water.
e.
both a and b
7. The Atlantic Ocean supports fewer coral species because most of the Atlantic is
a.
too warm.
b.
too stagnant.
c.
too clear.
d.
too cold.
e.
too nutrient-rich.
8. Zooxanthellae are symbiotic:
a.
diatoms.
b.
dinoflagellates.
c.
radiolarians.
d.
coccolithophores.
e.
forameniferans.
9. Coral reefs found very close to the shore of islands and continents are called:
a.
atolls.
b.
barrier reefs.
c.
table reefs.
d.
fringing reefs.
10. Circular coral reefs that arise out of deep water with a centrally located lagoon are called:
a.
atolls.
b.
barrier reefs.
c.
table reefs.
d.
fringing reefs.
11. Coral reefs separated from land by a lagoon or deep water channel are called:
a.
atolls.
b.
barrier reefs.
c.
table reefs.
d.
fringing reefs.
e.
patch reefs.
12. Reefs that are separated by a lagoon from the land mass they surround are called:
a.
atolls.
b.
fringing reefs.
c.
barrier reefs.
d.
patch reefs.
e.
table reefs.
13. The spur-and-groove formation of coral reefs is used as a means of:
a.
obtaining more sunlight.
b.
dissipating the energy of the waves.
c.
ensuring good circulation.
d.
capturing more zooplankton.
e.
directing fish migrations.
14. The highest point on a reef is called the:
a.
reef crest.
b.
reef flat.
c.
reef front.
d.
back reef.
e.
leeward edge.
15. The reef building corals are not found below 60 m (200 feet) due to:
a.
light requirements of the zooxanthellae.
b.
limited plankton as food.
c.
cold water.
d.
competition with non-reef building corals.
e.
predation by sea stars.
16. Hermatypic refers to:
a.
reef building corals.
b.
non-reef building corals.
c.
gorgonians.
d.
black corals.
e.
sea fans and soft corals.
17. Ahermatypic refers to:
a.
reef building corals.
b.
non-reef building corals.
c.
plate coral.
d.
brain coral.
e.
finger coral.
18. Each of the following is an ahermatypic coral except:
a.
gorgonians.
b.
black corals.
c.
plate corals.
d.
soft corals.
19. Fire coral are a member of the class
a.
Anthozoa.
b.
Hydrozoa.
c.
Scyphozoa.
d.
Cubozoa.
20. Broadcast spawning refers to
a.
having multiple reproductive partners.
b.
releasing sperm into surrounding waters.
c.
releasing eggs into surrounding waters.
d.
internal fertilization.
e.
both b and c
21. An important asexual form of coral reproduction is called:
a.
broadcast spawning.
b.
brooding.
c.
synchronized spawning.
d.
fragmentation.
22. The planktonic larvae of coral polyps are called:
a.
trochophore.
b.
zoea.
c.
planula.
d.
megalopa.
e.
echinopluteus.
23. The constructive phase of coral reef formation involves:
a.
consumption of soft corals by crown of thorns sea stars.
b.
settling of planula larvae.
c.
Halimeda growth.
d.
both a and c
24. The cycle of coral reef formation involves:
a.
bioerosion.
b.
budding to form corallites.
c.
solidification of rubble by encrusting coralline algae.
d.
a followed by c
25. The importance of crustose calcareous algae on a coral reef is that they:
a.
provide food for corals.
b.
prevent settlement of larvae.
c.
cement bits of rubble in the process of reef formation.
d.
are a major source of food for reef dwellers.
e.
create habitat for juvenile fish.
26. In the higher parts of reefs, where wave energy is greatest, ____ corals tend to dominate.
a.
platelike
b.
brain
c.
soft
d.
branching
e.
encrusting
27. Zooxanthellae provide some of the nutritional requirements of coral in the form of:
a.
glucose.
b.
fats.
c.
amino acids.
d.
a and c
e.
b and c
28. Nitrogen supplies to atoll coral reefs are thought to come from all except
a.
nitrogen fixing bacteria.
b.
planktonic cyanobacteria wind-driven to the reefs.
c.
re-cycling by fish fecal material.
d.
runoff from land.
29. A production/respiration ratio of one indicates:
a.
the reef is productive and exporting nutrients.
b.
little biomass is available for export.
c.
the reef may begin to decline.
d.
community respiration is too high.
e.
algae are overgrowing the coral.
225 Chapter 15—Coral Reef Communities
30. The high productivity of coral reefs is a direct result of:
a.
the large numbers of phytoplankton and algae living on reefs.
b.
the tight symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and zooxanthellae.
c.
the high concentration of nutrients in tropical waters.
d.
the upwelling of tropical waters.
31. High production of coral reefs relative to the surrounding sea is attributed to:
a.
the coral’s ability to trap nutrients.
b.
the unique structure of the corals.
c.
the abundant phytoplankton surrounding the coral animals.
d.
the symbiotic relationship of coral animals and dinoflagellates.
32. The Indo-Pacific coral reefs have about ____ species of true corals to ____ in the Atlantic.
a.
100 to 35
b.
500 to 62
c.
350 to 25
d.
62 to 500
e.
1000 to 62
33. Sessile and sedentary reef dwellers include
a.
sponges and cnidarians.
b.
crustaceans.
c.
many molluscs.
d.
fish.
e.
cephalopods.
34. All of the following are filter feeding dwellers of coral reefs except:
a.
Christmas tree worms.
b.
sponges.
c.
giant clam.
d.
cone snails.
e.
tunicates.
35. An active hunter on the coral reef is a(n)
a.
sponge.
b.
cnidarian.
c.
giant clam.
d.
octopus.
e.
crinoid.
226 Chapter 15—Coral Reef Communities
36. The use of venom for paralyzing prey is common in
a.
cowries.
b.
Triton’s trumpet snail.
c.
cone snails.
d.
mantis shrimp.
e.
sea stars.
37. Coral reef invertebrates mainly feed during
a.
day time.
b.
night time.
c.
early morning.
d.
early evening.
e.
spring tides.
38. An organism that can eviscerate its internal organs when stressed is the:
a.
sea star.
b.
sea cucumber.
c.
crinoid.
d.
sea urchin.
e.
brittle star.
39. The mucus cocoon of parrotfish is used as a means of:
a.
masking the fish’s scent.
b.
discouraging parasites from attaching.
c.
capturing plankton prey.
d.
maintaining osmotic balance.
e.
maintaining thermal constancy
40. Fish that mimic the morphology and behavior of cleaner wrasses are:
a.
groupers.
b.
pipefishes.
c.
stonefish.
d.
blennies.
e.
butterfly fish.
41. Clownfishes are involved in a symbiotic relationship with:
a.
corals.
b.
anemones.
c.
pearlfishes.
d.
sea cucumbers.
e.
sea fans.
42. Corals that compete by growing fast can also use:
a.
stinging filaments from their digestive cavity.
b.
sweeper tentacles.
c.
interference.
d.
their greater ability to tolerate shade.
e.
chemicals to paralyze competitors.
43. Massive forms of coral dominate:
a.
in the upper areas of the reef.
b.
in all areas of the reef.
c.
in deeper areas of the reef.
d.
in areas of the reef which receive the most light.
e.
on the top of the reef crest.
44. Fast-growing algae are prevented from out competing corals due to:
a.
low nutrients inhibiting their growth.
b.
grazing on algae by herbivores.
c.
sensitivity to pressure increasing with depth.
d.
damselfish activity.
e.
b and d
45. The ecological model that high reef fish diversity is due to niche diversity is called:
a.
competition model.
b.
predation disturbance model.
c.
lottery model.
d.
resource limitation model.
e.
bet hedging model.
46. The ecological model that random recruitment from the larval pool leads to high reef fish diversity is
called:
a.
competition model.
b.
predation disturbance model.
c.
lottery model.
d.
resource limitation model.
e.
optimal foraging model.
47. A problem with corals associated with warming of the oceans is called:
a.
white pox disease.
b.
coral bleaching.
c.
black band disease.
d.
yellow-blotch disease.
e.
green band disease.
TRUE/FALSE
48. Hermatypic corals are the principal reef building corals.
49. The water inside the ring of an atoll is isolated from the open ocean and is usually less saline.
50. The largest barrier reef in the world is the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
51. The reef flat of fringing reefs descends into a lagoon.
52. Coral diversity is greatest in the Caribbean.
53. Coral are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction.
54. Coral polyps supply their symbionts with their nitrogenous wastes.
55. Coral mucus is used by reef dwellers as a food source.
56. Most predators living around coral reefs are active during the day when they can see their prey.
57. Coral reproduce sexually by spawning.
MATCHING
Match the physical characteristic of a coral reef type with the most closely associated type.
a.
[shore-reef]
b.
[reef-lagoon-reef]
c.
[shore-lagoon-reef]
58. Barrier
59. Atoll
60. Fringing
229 Chapter 15—Coral Reef Communities
Match the organism with the reef-building formation process it is most closely associated with.
a.
Coralline algae
b.
Halimeda
c.
Sponges and bryzoans
61. Calcium carbonate source
62. Forms a loose structure
63. Cements coral sand and rubble
Match the words with the most closely associated term.
a.
finger-like projections
b.
highest point
c.
vertical wall
64. Dropoff
65. Buttress zone
66. Reef crest
Match the wave energy habitat with the most closely associated coral type.
a.
reef crest
b.
calm areas
c.
reef front
d.
deep areas
67. Brain coral
68. Elkhorn coral
69. Staghorn coral
70. Lettuce and plate coral
Match the symbiosis feature with its most closely associated species.
a.
shelter
b.
protective covering
c.
cleaners
d.
internal commensal
71. Wrasses
72. Clown fish
73. Hermit crab
74. Pearlfish
Match the use of a color pattern of coral fish with the most closely associated fish.
a.
defending territories
b.
indicates sex
c.
warning coloration
d.
cryptic coloration
e.
color changes between day and night
75. Lionfish
76. Harlequin tusk wrasse
77. Parrotfishes
78. Stonefish
79. Spanish grunt
Match the protective behavior of coral fish with its most closely associated species.
a.
buries into sand
b.
retreat into crevices for the night
c.
sudsy mucus
d.
mucus envelope
80. Soapfish
81. Wrasses
82. Pearly razorfish
83. Parrotfish
Match the coral disease with its most closely associated term.
a.
affects only certain species of Montastraea
b.
combination of bacteria and cyanobacteria
c.
kills elkhorn corals
84. Black band
85. White pox
86. Caribbean yellow band disease
ESSAY
87. What are the three categories of coral reefs and how do they develop?
88. Outline the three mechanisms by which corals obtain their nutrition.
89. How do some corals reproduce asexually?
90. Describe the process of reef formation, including the destructive and constructive phases.
91. Describe at least 3 physical factors that limit coral reef distribution.
92. Cores of coral reefs show a reef base that is well below the photic zone. How are two ways that is this
possible, given the light limitations of reef-forming corals?
93. Describe two symbiotic relationships between reef dwellers other than the zooxanthellae-coral polyp
relationship.
94. Different areas of coral reefs contain different species of corals. Describe 2 environmental
characteristics that can account for the distribution patterns of coral species on a reef.
95. What accounts for the higher coral species diversity in the Pacific and Indian Oceans compared to the
Atlantic?
96. What role do zooxanthellae play in the reef-building process?
97. How do calcareous green and red algae contribute to the reef building process?
98. Explain 2 functions of the bright coloration of some coral reef dwellers.