
Plate tectonics works today in the same way as in the past. Can you project the future positions of the continents by looking at a map of their present positions and the positions of the mid-ocean ridges (see Fig. 2.5)? Which oceans are growing and which are shrinking? Where will new oceans form?
FIGURE 2.5 The major features of the sea floor. Compare this map with Figure 2.6.

To predict: The future positions of the continents by looking at the map of their present positions and the positions of the mid-ocean ridges.
Introduction: The continents in the earth’s crust or plates that float on the mantle portion of the Earth are called plate tectonics. The movement of plate causes formation of the mountain and continents over a millions of years that result in the geographical changes of the Earth.
Explanation of Solution
Plate tectonics are the lithospheric plates composed of continental and oceanic lithosphere. Refer to Fig. 2.5, “The major features of the sea floor”, in the text book. The future positions of the continents are given in Table 1.
Tabular representation: The following table shows the future positions of the continents.
Table 1: The future positions of the continents
Continents | Future positions |
North and South America | Farther west toward the Pacific Ocean |
Europe and Asia | Farther southeast |
Australia | Farther northeast |
Africa | Farther east |

To determine: The oceans that are growing and shrinking.
Introduction: The continents in the earth’s crust or plates that float on the mantle portion of the Earth are called plate tectonics. The movement of plate causes formation of the mountain and continents over a millions of years, which result in the geographical changes of the Earth.
Explanation of Solution
Plate tectonics are the lithospheric plates composed of continental and oceanic lithosphere. Refer to Fig. 2.5, “The major features of the sea floor”, in the text book. The shrinking ocean is Pacific Ocean (expected to be narrower) and the growing ocean is Atlantic Ocean (expected to be wider).

To determine: Where will the new oceans form.
Introduction: The continents in the earth’s crust or plates that float on the mantle portion of the Earth are called Plate tectonics. The movement of plate causes formation of the mountain and continents over a millions of years, which result in the geographical changes of the Earth.
Explanation of Solution
Refer to Fig. 2.5, “The major features of the sea floor”, in the text book. The edges of several plates are formed by the mid-ocean ridges. At this point, the lithospheric plates move apart to form the new oceanic lithosphere (new sea floor). If the plate contains a block of continental crust, the plate moves away from the ridge, and the continent is carried along with the plate.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 2 Solutions
Marine Biology (Botany, Zoology, Ecology and Evolution)
- Design a grafting experiment to determine if limb mesoderm determines forelimb / hindlimb identity. Include the experiment, a control, and an interpretation in your answer.arrow_forwardThe Snapdragon is a popular garden flower that comes in a variety of colours, including red, yellow, and orange. The genotypes and associated phenotypes for some of these flowers are as follows: aabb: yellow AABB, AABb, AaBb, and AaBB: red AAbb and Aabb: orange aaBB: yellow aaBb: ? Based on this information, what would the phenotype of a Snapdragon with the genotype aaBb be and why? Question 21 options: orange because A is epistatic to B yellow because A is epistatic to B red because B is epistatic to A orange because B is epistatic to A red because A is epistatic to B yellow because B is epistatic to Aarrow_forwardA sample of blood was taken from the above individual and prepared for haemoglobin analysis. However, when water was added the cells did not lyse and looked normal in size and shape. The technician suspected that they had may have made an error in the protocol – what is the most likely explanation? The cell membranes are more resistant than normal. An isotonic solution had been added instead of water. A solution of 0.1 M NaCl had been added instead of water. Not enough water had been added to the red blood cell pellet. The man had sickle-cell anaemia.arrow_forward
- A sample of blood was taken from the above individual and prepared for haemoglobin analysis. However, when water was added the cells did not lyse and looked normal in size and shape. The technician suspected that they had may have made an error in the protocol – what is the most likely explanation? The cell membranes are more resistant than normal. An isotonic solution had been added instead of water. A solution of 0.1 M NaCl had been added instead of water. Not enough water had been added to the red blood cell pellet. The man had sickle-cell anaemia.arrow_forwardWith reference to their absorption spectra of the oxy haemoglobin intact line) and deoxyhemoglobin (broken line) shown in Figure 2 below, how would you best explain the reason why there are differences in the major peaks of the spectra? Figure 2. SPECTRA OF OXYGENATED AND DEOXYGENATED HAEMOGLOBIN OBTAINED WITH THE RECORDING SPECTROPHOTOMETER 1.4 Abs < 0.8 06 0.4 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 nm 1. The difference in the spectra is due to a pH change in the deoxy-haemoglobin due to uptake of CO2- 2. There is more oxygen-carrying plasma in the oxy-haemoglobin sample. 3. The change in Mr due to oxygen binding causes the oxy haemoglobin to have a higher absorbance peak. 4. Oxy-haemoglobin is contaminated by carbaminohemoglobin, and therefore has a higher absorbance peak 5. Oxy-haemoglobin absorbs more light of blue wavelengths and less of red wavelengths than deoxy-haemoglobinarrow_forwardWith reference to their absorption spectra of the oxy haemoglobin intact line) and deoxyhemoglobin (broken line) shown in Figure 2 below, how would you best explain the reason why there are differences in the major peaks of the spectra? Figure 2. SPECTRA OF OXYGENATED AND DEOXYGENATED HAEMOGLOBIN OBTAINED WITH THE RECORDING SPECTROPHOTOMETER 1.4 Abs < 0.8 06 0.4 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 nm 1. The difference in the spectra is due to a pH change in the deoxy-haemoglobin due to uptake of CO2- 2. There is more oxygen-carrying plasma in the oxy-haemoglobin sample. 3. The change in Mr due to oxygen binding causes the oxy haemoglobin to have a higher absorbance peak. 4. Oxy-haemoglobin is contaminated by carbaminohemoglobin, and therefore has a higher absorbance peak 5. Oxy-haemoglobin absorbs more light of blue wavelengths and less of red wavelengths than deoxy-haemoglobinarrow_forward
- Which ONE of the following is FALSE regarding haemoglobin? It has two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The subunits are joined by disulphide bonds. Each subunit covalently binds a haem group. Conformational change in one subunit can be transmitted to another. There are many variant ("mutant") forms of haemoglobin that are not harmful.arrow_forwardWhich ONE of the following is FALSE regarding haemoglobin? It has two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. The subunits are joined by disulphide bonds. Each subunit covalently binds a haem group. Conformational change in one subunit can be transmitted to another. There are many variant ("mutant") forms of haemoglobin that are not harmful.arrow_forwardDuring a routine medical check up of a healthy man it was found that his haematocrit value was highly unusual – value of 60%. What one of the options below is the most likely reason? He will have a diet high in iron. He is likely to be suffering from anaemia. He lives at high altitude. He has recently recovered from an accident where he lost a lot of blood. He has a very large body size.arrow_forward
- Explain what age of culture is most likely to produce an endospore?arrow_forwardExplain why hot temperatures greater than 45 degrees celsius would not initiate the sporulation process in endospores?arrow_forwardEndospore stain: Consider tube 2 of the 7-day bacillus culture. After is was heated, it was incubated for 24 hours then refrigerated. Do you think the cloudiness in this tube is due mostly to vegetative cells or to endospores? Explain your reasoningarrow_forward
- Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (Mi...BiologyISBN:9781305117396Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxBiology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap...BiologyISBN:9781305073951Author:Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa StarrPublisher:Cengage Learning





