Compare and contrast the primary production (producers) in a sea grass and a coral reef including in your answer a typical energy pyramid for both ecosystems
What will be an ideal response?
Green surf grass (Phyllospadix) and various species of brown algae are exposed during an extremely low tide. When the tide rises, the anchored surf grass floats and provides a protective hiding place for many low tide zone organisms. Coral reefs are wave-resistant structures produced by corals and other organisms. Corals are composed of colonies of individual polyps, which are small benthic marine animals that feed with stinging tentacles and are related to jellies. "Coral reefs" are more than just coral. Algae, mollusks, and foraminifers contribute to the reef structure, too. Reef-building corals have a mutualistic relationship with microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that live within the tissue of the coral polyp. The algae provide their coral hosts with a continual supply of food, and the corals provide the zooxanthellae with nutrients. Although coral polyps capture tiny planktonic food with their stinging tentacles, most reef-building corals receive up to 90% of their nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae algae. In this way, corals are able to survive in the nutrient-poor waters that are characteristic of tropical oceans.
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A tropical monsoon climate is more similar to a tropical savanna climate than to a tropical rainforest climate
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Which of the following is true of igneous landscapes?
A. Basaltic lava flows tend to clump rather than spread out easily. B. Granites rarely fracture and weather very slowly. C. Volcanic rocks tend to fracture parallel to the layers. D. Columnar jointing is common in basaltic lava flows. E. None of these.
On the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, the north polar region receives ________ daily insolation than areas nearer the equator because ________
A) more; the Sun does not set B) less; the Sun is lower in the sky C) less; the Sun does not rise D) more; the Sun is higher in the sky
Which one of the following statements is true?
A. Despite infrequent rainfalls, erosional and depositional features of running water are important in desert landscapes. B. Deserts and dry lands are concentrated in areas of ascending air masses and relatively low atmospheric pressures. C. Desert landscapes are monotonous, relatively flat areas covered to various depths with sand.