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#marine ecology

5 public questions tagged with this topic.

Collapse of intermediate trophic levels in 'wasp-waist' systems causes:

“Drastic changes at higher and lower levels” for collapse of intermediate trophic levels in 'wasp-waist' systems causes. This relationship follows from the ecological mechanism represented by the terms in the item, not merely from an association between their names. Ecosystem processes are constrained by energy conservation and by the cycling of matter. Energy enters mainly through primary production, is lost as metabolic heat at every transfer, and therefore cannot be recycled in the way that carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, or water can. The remaining alternatives—“No impact”, “Increased predat

Ref: Fundamentals of Ecology, Odum & Barrett, 5th Ed., Ch. 4

Sea urchins' role in kelp forest ecosystems?

“Primary herbivore” for sea urchins' role in kelp forest ecosystems. This relationship follows from the ecological mechanism represented by the terms in the item, not merely from an association between their names. Ecosystem processes are constrained by energy conservation and by the cycling of matter. Energy enters mainly through primary production, is lost as metabolic heat at every transfer, and therefore cannot be recycled in the way that carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, or water can. The remaining alternatives—“Top predator”, “Primary producer”, “Secondary carnivore”—refer to different state

Ref: Fundamentals of Ecology, Odum & Barrett, 5th Ed., Ch. 4

What happens when sea otters are removed from kelp forests?

“Sea urchins increase, kelp decreases” for what happens when sea otters are removed from kelp forests. This relationship follows from the ecological mechanism represented by the terms in the item, not merely from an association between their names. The relevant inference should follow the pathway from resource supply to organismal uptake and then to ecosystem-level flux. Productivity, trophic transfer, decomposition, and nutrient regeneration are connected, but each measures a different part of that pathway. The remaining alternatives—“Sea urchins decrease”, “Kelp biomass increases”, “No effec

Ref: Fundamentals of Ecology, Odum & Barrett, 5th Ed., Ch. 4

What is a characteristic of 'wasp-waist' ecosystems?

“Dominance at an intermediate trophic level” for what is a characteristic of 'wasp-waist' ecosystems. This relationship follows from the ecological mechanism represented by the terms in the item, not merely from an association between their names. Ecosystem processes are constrained by energy conservation and by the cycling of matter. Energy enters mainly through primary production, is lost as metabolic heat at every transfer, and therefore cannot be recycled in the way that carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, or water can. The remaining alternatives—“High nutrient availability”, “Control by apex pr

Ref: Fundamentals of Ecology, Odum & Barrett, 5th Ed., Ch. 4

Barnacles show niche differentiation primarily due to:

“Competition” for barnacles show niche differentiation primarily due to. This relationship follows from the ecological mechanism represented by the terms in the item, not merely from an association between their names. A niche is the multidimensional set of abiotic conditions, resources, and biotic relationships under which a population can persist. The fundamental niche reflects physiological and resource limits, while the realized niche is modified by competitors, consumers, mutualists, and dispersal barriers. The remaining alternatives—“Temperature tolerance”, “Salinity preference”, “Predat

Ref: Ecology: Concepts and Applications, Molles, 9th Ed., Ch. 13