AICE Marine Science Flash Cards

Perfect — here’s a Quizlet-style set for Unit 1: Water with 10 questions using exam-style command words. I’ll format them as term (question) and definition (answer) pairs:

Unit 1 #1

Define salinity.

The concentration of dissolved salts in seawater, typically measured in parts per thousand (ppt).

Unit 1 #2

State two factors that affect the salinity of seawater.

Evaporation and precipitation.

Unit 1 #3

Describe how temperature and salinity affect the density of seawater.

As temperature decreases and salinity increases, the density of seawater increases.

Unit 1 #4

Explain why oxygen levels are higher at the surface of the ocean than at greater depths.

Oxygen is higher at the surface due to photosynthesis by phytoplankton and diffusion from the atmosphere.

Unit 1 #5

Calculate the salinity of a water sample that has 35 grams of salt in 1000 grams of seawater.

35 ppt.

Unit 1 #6

Outline how thermoclines form in tropical oceans.

Thermoclines form due to strong surface heating creating a warm upper layer, with a rapid temperature decrease below.

Unit 1 #7

Discuss how salinity varies between estuaries and open ocean water.

Estuaries have lower salinity due to freshwater input, while open oceans have more stable and higher salinity levels.

Unit 1 #8

Compare the oxygen concentration at the surface with that at the oxygen minimum layer.

Surface oxygen is high due to photosynthesis and diffusion, while the oxygen minimum layer has lower levels due to respiration and lack of light.

Unit 1 #9

Suggest how temperature affects the solubility of gases in seawater.

As temperature increases, the solubility of gases like oxygen decreases.

Unit 1 #10

Analyze the impact of high rainfall on the salinity of coastal waters.

High rainfall dilutes seawater, decreasing salinity near coastlines.

Here are 10 Quizlet-style, exam command word-based questions for Unit 2: Earth Processes:

Unit 2 #1

Define tectonic plate.

A rigid segment of the Earth’s lithosphere that moves over the asthenosphere.

Unit 2 #2

State two types of plate boundaries.

Convergent and divergent boundaries.

Unit 2 #3

Describe what happens at a divergent plate boundary under the ocean.

Plates move apart, magma rises to form new oceanic crust and mid-ocean ridges.

Unit 2 #4

Explain how earthquakes occur at transform boundaries.

Plates slide past each other, pressure builds and is released as seismic energy.

Unit 2 #5

Identify one geological feature found at a subduction zone.

Deep ocean trench.

Unit 2 #6

Compare oceanic crust with continental crust in terms of density and composition.

Oceanic crust is denser and composed mainly of basalt; continental crust is less dense and composed mainly of granite.

Unit 2 #7

Discuss the role of tectonic activity in the formation of hydrothermal vents.

Tectonic movement allows seawater to enter cracks, get heated by magma, and emerge as mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids.

Unit 2 #8

Outline the process of tsunami formation following an undersea earthquake.

An earthquake displaces large volumes of water, generating waves that increase in height near shorelines.

Unit 2 #9

Suggest why mid-ocean ridges have high biodiversity near hydrothermal vents.

Chemosynthetic bacteria support unique ecosystems by converting vent chemicals into energy.

Unit 2 #10

Analyze how volcanic island chains form at hotspots.

A tectonic plate moves over a stationary hotspot, creating a series of volcanoes, oldest being furthest from the hotspot.

Here are 10 Quizlet-style exam questions for Unit 3: Interactions in Marine Ecosystems, using command words:

Unit 3 #1

Define the term producer in a marine ecosystem.

An organism, such as phytoplankton, that produces organic substances through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Unit 3 #2

State two examples of abiotic factors in a coral reef ecosystem.

Temperature and salinity.

Unit 3 #3

Describe the relationship between predator and prey in a marine food web.

Predators hunt and consume prey to obtain energy, helping to regulate population sizes.

Unit 3 #4

Explain how energy is transferred through trophic levels in a food chain.

Energy is passed from one level to the next through feeding, but most is lost as heat or waste at each stage.

Unit 3 #5

Identify the role of decomposers in marine ecosystems.

They break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients into the ecosystem.

Unit 3 #6

Compare mutualism and parasitism with examples from the ocean.

Mutualism benefits both species, like cleaner fish and host fish; parasitism benefits one while harming the other, like fish lice on a host fish.

Unit 3 #7

Discuss the impact of overfishing on trophic structure.

Overfishing removes top predators, causing imbalances and population surges in lower trophic levels.

Unit 3 #8

Outline the process of photosynthesis in marine phytoplankton.

They use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce glucose and oxygen.

Unit 3 #9

Suggest how seasonal changes might affect primary productivity in polar oceans.

Productivity increases in summer due to longer daylight and ice melt, then decreases in winter with limited light.

Unit 3 #10

Analyze how predator-prey relationships contribute to ecosystem stability.

They regulate populations, prevent overgrazing, and maintain biodiversity through natural selection.

Here are 10 Quizlet-style exam questions for Unit 4: Classification and Biodiversity, using command words:

Unit 4 #1

Define the term biodiversity.

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, including species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity.

Unit 4 #2

State two reasons why marine biodiversity is important.

Maintains ecosystem stability and provides resources like food and medicine.

Unit 4 #3

Describe the binomial naming system.

A universal system that gives each species a two-part Latin name: genus and species.

Unit 4 #4

Explain why scientific names are used instead of common names.

To avoid confusion caused by different common names and ensure consistent global communication.

Unit 4 #5

Identify one example of a keystone species in a marine environment.

Sea otter.

Unit 4 #6

Compare the characteristics of fish and mammals in the ocean.

Fish have gills, scales, and lay eggs; marine mammals have lungs, hair, and give live birth.

Unit 4 #7

Discuss how biodiversity can be measured in a coral reef ecosystem.

Using species richness (number of species) and species evenness (relative abundance).

Unit 4 #8

Outline the threats to biodiversity in mangrove forests.

Deforestation, pollution, climate change, and development.

Unit 4 #9

Suggest reasons for conserving marine biodiversity.

To preserve ecosystem services, maintain food webs, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Unit 4 #10

Analyze how human activities affect the classification and discovery of new marine species.

Pollution and habitat destruction reduce populations, while technology helps identify and classify new species.

Here are 10 Quizlet-style exam questions for Unit 5: Examples of Marine Ecosystems, using command words:

Unit 5 #1

Define the term estuary.

A coastal area where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the sea, creating a brackish environment.

Unit 5 #2

State two characteristics of sandy shore ecosystems.

Unstable substrate and low biodiversity.

Unit 5 #3

Describe the environmental conditions of a hydrothermal vent ecosystem.

High pressure, high temperature, low light, and rich in hydrogen sulfide.

Unit 5 #4

Explain how organisms are adapted to life on rocky shores.

They have strong attachments, protective shells, and can tolerate desiccation and wave action.

Unit 5 #5

Identify one producer found in a mangrove forest.

Red mangrove tree.

Unit 5 #6

Compare the biodiversity of coral reefs and hydrothermal vents.

Coral reefs have high biodiversity with many species; hydrothermal vents have low species diversity but high specialization.

Unit 5 #7

Discuss how salinity changes in an estuary throughout the day.

Salinity fluctuates with tides, becoming higher during high tide and lower during low tide due to river flow.

Unit 5 #8

Outline how coral reefs form.

Reefs begin as coral larvae settle, grow calcium carbonate skeletons, and accumulate over time into reef structures.

Unit 5 #9

Suggest reasons why muddy shores support fewer visible organisms than rocky shores.

Low oxygen, unstable substrate, and poor drainage limit organism diversity.

Unit 5 #10

Analyze the importance of mangroves in coastal protection.

Mangroves reduce erosion, absorb wave energy, and provide a barrier against storm surges and flooding.