6th Extinction Ch7 Quiz
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The 6th Extinction
Chapter 7 Quiz
1.
Where is our author in this chapter?
The author is on Heron Island, Australia.
2.
What are the two theories of how the Great Barrier Island reef was formed?
Captain James Cook initially encountered the Great Barrier Reef in 1770 and speculated that it
might have been formed by animals in the sea. Charles Darwin later proposed the theory of coral
reef formation through subsidence, suggesting that coral reefs grow on the rims of submerged
extinct volcanoes, and as the volcanoes sink, the coral reefs transform into atolls.
3.
Caldeira's studies showed that reefs need to do what in order to compensate for the climate
change and warming sea temperatures?
Caldeira’s studies showed that coral reefs must continue to grow, adapt, and recover from
environmental stressors to compensate for the impacts of climate change and warming sea
temperatures. This growth is essential to maintain the structural integrity of the reefs and
counteract the natural processes of erosion and damage caused by factors like storms and
marine life.
4.
What is threatening coral reefs?
One of the threats to coral reefs is ocean acidification. Other threats to reefs include excessive
fishing, which encourages the development of algae that pose a threat to corals; runoff from
agriculture, which also promotes the establishment of algae; deforestation, which decreases
water quality and causes siltation; and fishing with dynamite, whose potentially disastrous
nature should be obvious.
5.
Why did Biosphere 2 fail?
What does this imply about the power and significance of natural
feedback loops?
Biosphere 2 failed primarily due to difficulties in managing its closed ecosystems. Decomposition
overwhelms photosynthesis, lowering oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide. This breakdown
shows how natural feedback loops preserve Earth's fragile balance. In nature, feedback
mechanisms manage ecosystems to exchange gases, nutrients, and energy for life. The Biosphere
2 catastrophe shows how intricate these processes are and how difficult they are to replicate
artificially.
6.
Why are scientists so worried about the loss of corals?
Scientists are deeply concerned about the loss of corals because coral reefs are critical
ecosystems that support a vast array of marine life and provide numerous benefits to humans.
They protect coastlines from erosion, offer habitat for diverse marine species, support fisheries,
and contribute to tourism and coastal economies. The decline of coral reefs due to factors like
ocean acidification, climate change, and various human impacts threatens these ecosystems and
the services they provide.
7.
Reefs of different types have been lost in previous mass extinctions. Is it a big deal that reefs may
be gone from the world for a few million years again?
Yes, it is a big deal that reefs may be gone from the world for a few million years again because
coral reefs are vital ecosystems supporting biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal protection, with
far-reaching ecological, economic, and cultural impacts. Their loss would be devastating. In the
event that coral reefs disappear from the planet, it might set off a domino effect of mass
destruction.
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