In a small bay that contains a coral reef, the water temperature has remained the same for decades. Recently, scientists discovered that the water temperature in the bay has increased by 1°C. Which is most likely to happen?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The coral reef will undergo a period of intense growth.
The coral reef will undergo a period of intense growth.

The corals in the reef will immediately die.
The corals in the reef will immediately die.

The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.
The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.

The coral in the reef will gain more zooxanthellae.

Answer 1

The most likely response is:

The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.

Coral bleaching can occur when water temperatures rise, causing corals to expel the zooxanthellae, the symbiotic algae that live within their tissues. This leads to a loss of color and can ultimately result in coral stress and mortality if the temperature remains elevated for an extended period.

Answer 2

What is an example of a physical weathering?(1 point)
Responses

a rock wearing down due to acid rain
a rock wearing down due to acid rain

a metal tool left outside beginning to rust
a metal tool left outside beginning to rust

microscopic organisms producing compounds that break down rock
microscopic organisms producing compounds that break down rock

bits being blown off a rock by heavy winds

Answer 3

The correct response is:

bits being blown off a rock by heavy winds.

This is an example of physical weathering, as it involves the mechanical breakdown of rocks through physical forces, such as wind. The other options describe chemical weathering or biological weathering processes.

Answer 4

What evidence is there that oxygen levels in the sea increased due to photosynthetic bacteria?(1 point)
Responses

global cooling
global cooling

rust deposits in the ancient ocean
rust deposits in the ancient ocean

rust deposits in today’s ocean
rust deposits in today’s ocean

decreases in anaerobic organisms

Answer 5

The correct response is:

rust deposits in the ancient ocean.

The increase in oxygen levels due to photosynthetic bacteria, particularly cyanobacteria, led to the formation of rust deposits (iron oxides) in the ancient ocean. This is indicative of the Great Oxidation Event, which occurred approximately 2.4 billion years ago when oxygen produced by photosynthesis began to accumulate in the atmosphere and oceans, reacting with dissolved iron and creating banded iron formations in the sediments.

Answer 6

Why do scientists know very little about life in the Precambrian eon?(1 point)
Responses

There are few fossils from that time.
There are few fossils from that time.

All of these forms of life are now extinct.
All of these forms of life are now extinct.

The eon started with a mass extinction.
The eon started with a mass extinction.

There was no life on Earth during that eon

Answer 7

The correct response is:

There are few fossils from that time.

The Precambrian eon spans a vast amount of geological time, and very few fossils have been found from this period. Most of the life forms during this time were simple and lacked hard parts that are typically preserved in the fossil record, making it difficult for scientists to study and understand the diversity and nature of life during the Precambrian.

Answer 8

Which describes the physical weathering of rock by water?(1 point)
Responses

Water breaks down a rock into smaller pieces with the same composition as the larger rock.
Water breaks down a rock into smaller pieces with the same composition as the larger rock.

Water dissolves rock into a solution.
Water dissolves rock into a solution.

Water carries away pieces of rock.
Water carries away pieces of rock.

Any break down of a rock is the same as physical weathering of rock by water.

Answer 9

The correct response is:

Water breaks down a rock into smaller pieces with the same composition as the larger rock.

This statement describes physical weathering specifically, as it involves the mechanical breakdown of rock into smaller fragments without changing its chemical composition. The other options describe chemical weathering or other processes not specifically related to physical weathering.