Marine Ecology MCQs are very important test and often asked by various testing services and competitive exams around the world. Here you will find all the Important Marine Ecology MCQs for Preparation.
The student can clear their concepts for Marine Ecology online quiz by attempting it. Doing MCQs based Marine Ecology will help you to check your understanding and identify areas of improvement.
Marine Ecology Online MCQs with Answers
What is the primary source of energy in most marine ecosystems?
a) Solar energy
b) Geothermal energy
c) Chemical energy
d) Wind energy
Which of the following is an example of a benthic organism?
a) Phytoplankton
b) Zooplankton
c) Coral
d) Fish
What is the term used to describe the area where a freshwater river meets the ocean?
a) Estuary
b) Abyssal zone
c) Intertidal zone
d) Pelagic zone
Which of the following is a primary producer in marine ecosystems?
a) Fish
b) Seaweed
c) Whale
d) Jellyfish
What is the term used to describe the process by which dissolved nutrients are converted into organic matter by photosynthetic organisms?
a) Primary production
b) Nutrient cycling
c) Trophic transfer
d) Decomposition
Which of the following is an example of a pelagic organism?
a) Seaweed
b) Coral
c) Tuna
d) Starfish
What is the term used to describe the variety of life in the ocean?
a) Biodiversity
b) Ecosystem diversity
c) Species richness
d) Genetic diversity
Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship in marine ecosystems?
a) Predation
b) Competition
c) Mutualism
d) Parasitism
What is the term used to describe the zone of the ocean that extends from the low-tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf?
a) Abyssal zone
b) Intertidal zone
c) Pelagic zone
d) Benthic zone
Which of the following is a threat to coral reefs?
a) Pollution
b) Overfishing
c) Climate change
d) All of the above
What is the term used to describe the process of ocean water becoming more acidic due to increased carbon dioxide absorption?
a) Eutrophication
b) Ocean acidification
c) Coral bleaching
d) Thermal pollution
Which of the following is an example of a keystone species in a marine ecosystem?
a) Clownfish
b) Jellyfish
c) Phytoplankton
d) Starfish
What is the term used to describe the process by which nutrients are transferred from one trophic level to another in a food chain?
a) Biomagnification
b) Trophic transfer
c) Decomposition
d) Photosynthesis
Which of the following is a characteristic of estuarine ecosystems?
a) High salinity
b) Low biodiversity
c) Fluctuating water levels
d) Absence of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the area where the ocean is shallow and sunlight can penetrate to the ocean floor?
a) Abyssal zone
b) Intertidal zone
c) Pelagic zone
d) Photic zone
Which of the following is a characteristic of deep-sea ecosystems?
a) High temperature
b) High light levels
c) High biodiversity
d) Low nutrient availability
What is the term used to describe the process by which dissolved oxygen levels in the ocean decrease, leading to the suffocation of marine organisms?
a) Eutrophication
b) Hypoxia
c) Ocean acidification
d) Bioaccumulation
Which of the following is an example of a filter-feeding organism in marine ecosystems?
a) Shark
b) Sea turtle
c) Sea anemone
d) Whale
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic matter into inorganic compounds through the action of decomposers?
a) Decomposition
b) Photosynthesis
c) Trophic transfer
d) Biomagnification
Which of the following is a characteristic of coral reef ecosystems?
a) Low biodiversity
b) High salinity
c) Absence of primary producers
d) High species richness
What is the term used to describe the process by which nutrients are returned to the surface of the ocean from deep water through upwelling?
a) Eutrophication
b) Ocean acidification
c) Upwelling
d) Downwelling
Which of the following is a characteristic of kelp forest ecosystems?
a) Low productivity
b) Absence of primary producers
c) High biodiversity
d) Lack of herbivores
What is the term used to describe the process of organisms sinking from the surface of the ocean to the deep sea floor?
a) Eutrophication
b) Deposition
c) Upwelling
d) Marine snowfall
Which of the following is an example of a threat to marine turtle populations?
a) Overfishing
b) Habitat destruction
c) Pollution
d) All of the above
What is the term used to describe the process of organisms actively swimming or drifting in the open ocean?
a) Benthic
b) Pelagic
c) Planktonic
d) Demersal
Which of the following is a characteristic of mangrove forest ecosystems?
a) High salinity
b) Low biodiversity
c) Absence of primary producers
d) Adaptations to saltwater conditions
What is the term used to describe the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by marine organisms?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is an example of a demersal organism?
a) Tuna
b) Shark
c) Phytoplankton
d) Sea anemone
What is the term used to describe the process of converting light energy into chemical energy by photosynthetic organisms?
a) Respiration
b) Decomposition
c) Trophic transfer
d) Photosynthesis
Which of the following is a characteristic of seagrass meadow ecosystems?
a) Low productivity
b) Absence of primary producers
c) High salinity
d) Habitat for many species
What is the term used to describe the process of converting nitrogen compounds back into atmospheric nitrogen?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is an example of a baleen whale?
a) Humpback whale
b) Orca whale
c) Sperm whale
d) Beluga whale
What is the term used to describe the process of converting ammonia into nitrate and nitrite by nitrifying bacteria?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is a characteristic of coral reef bleaching?
a) Increase in coral growth
b) Loss of coral coloration
c) Increase in coral diversity
d) Loss of fish species
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia by decomposers?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is an example of a suspension-feeding organism in marine ecosystems?
a) Seaweed
b) Jellyfish
c) Sea anemone
d) Sponge
What is the term used to describe the process of converting nitrate and nitrite back into nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is a conservation technique used to protect genetic diversity in marine ecosystems?
a) Habitat restoration
b) In situ conservation
c) Genetic engineering
d) Ex situ conservation
What is the term used to describe the process of converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon by photosynthetic organisms?
a) Carbon fixation
b) Carbon sequestration
c) Carbon cycling
d) Carbon degradation
Which of the following is a characteristic of hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
a) Low temperature
b) High biodiversity
c) Absence of primary producers
d) Lack of symbiotic relationships
What is the term used to describe the process of organisms living in close physical association with one another?
a) Mutualism
b) Symbiosis
c) Parasitism
d) Commensalism
Which of the following is an example of a top predator in a marine food web?
a) Phytoplankton
b) Zooplankton
c) Fish
d) Seaweed
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic carbon into carbon dioxide through respiration and decomposition?
a) Carbon fixation
b) Carbon sequestration
c) Carbon cycling
d) Carbon degradation
Which of the following is a characteristic of the abyssal zone in the ocean?
a) High temperature
b) High light levels
c) Low biodiversity
d) Lack of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic matter into methane gas by methanogenic bacteria?
a) Methane oxidation
b) Methane production
c) Methanogenesis
d) Methane cycling
Which of the following is an example of a primary consumer in a marine food web?
a) Phytoplankton
b) Zooplankton
c) Fish
d) Seaweed
What is the term used to describe the process of converting methane gas into carbon dioxide through microbial activity?
a) Methane oxidation
b) Methane production
c) Methanogenesis
d) Methane cycling
Which of the following is a characteristic of polar marine ecosystems?
a) High temperature
b) Low salinity
c) Low biodiversity
d) Absence of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic matter into methane gas by methanogenic archaea?
a) Methane oxidation
b) Methane production
c) Methanogenesis
d) Methane cycling
Which of the following is an example of a detritivore in marine ecosystems?
a) Shark
b) Sea anemone
c) Sea turtle
d) Sea cucumber
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic matter into methane gas by anaerobic bacteria?
a) Methane oxidation
b) Methane production
c) Methanogenesis
d) Methane cycling
Which of the following is a characteristic of deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems?
a) High temperature
b) Low pressure
c) Low biodiversity
d) Absence of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the process of converting carbon dioxide into organic carbon by photosynthetic organisms?
a) Carbon fixation
b) Carbon sequestration
c) Carbon cycling
d) Carbon degradation
Which of the following is an example of a migratory marine species?
a) Phytoplankton
b) Zooplankton
c) Tuna
d) Seaweed
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic carbon into carbon dioxide through respiration by marine organisms?
a) Carbon fixation
b) Carbon sequestration
c) Carbon cycling
d) Carbon degradation
Which of the following is a characteristic of seamount ecosystems?
a) High temperature
b) High light levels
c) High biodiversity
d) Lack of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the process of converting nitrate and nitrite into atmospheric nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is a characteristic of deep-sea trench ecosystems?
a) Low temperature
b) High pressure
c) Low biodiversity
d) Lack of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the process of converting ammonia into nitrate and nitrite by nitrifying bacteria?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is an example of a bioluminescent organism in marine ecosystems?
a) Shark
b) Jellyfish
c) Seaweed
d) Sponge
What is the term used to describe the process of converting nitrate and nitrite back into atmospheric nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is a characteristic of seafloor communities in marine ecosystems?
a) High light levels
b) Low productivity
c) Absence of primary producers
d) High biodiversity
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia by decomposers?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is an example of a deep-sea organism?
a) Phytoplankton
b) Zooplankton
c) Tubeworm
d) Seaweed
What is the term used to describe the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by marine organisms?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is a characteristic of open ocean ecosystems?
a) High nutrient availability
b) Low salinity
c) Low biodiversity
d) Absence of primary producers
What is the term used to describe the process of converting nitrate and nitrite into atmospheric nitrogen by denitrifying bacteria?
a) Nitrogen fixation
b) Denitrification
c) Nitrification
d) Ammonification
Which of the following is an example of a planktonic organism in marine ecosystems?
a) Shark
b) Sea anemone
c) Phytoplankton
d) Sponge
What is the term used to describe the process of converting organic matter into methane gas by methanogenic archaea?
a) Methane oxidation
b) Methane production
c) Methanogenesis
d) Methane cycling
Which of the following is a characteristic of deep-sea canyon ecosystems?
a) Low temperature
b) High light levels
c) Low biodiversity
d) Lack of primary producers