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Coral Seas Trivia Quiz

Corals are some of the largest living organisms on earth and were recently featured on "Blue Planet". Take an opportunity to learn about these remarkable creatures.

A multiple-choice quiz by pshelton. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
pshelton

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
292,934

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1452

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. It is well-known that corals are marine animals where the large reef-forming organism is comprised of many small individual "unit" animals. What are these coral units called? Hint

coralites

shales

zygotes

polyps

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2. What is the primary food source for most corals? Hint

plankton

starfish

other coral

microscopic algae

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3. How do corals reproduce? Hint

Corals do not reproduce

They only reproduce asexually

Both sexual and asexual reproduction

When old coral dies, it emits a seed that will form a new coral

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4. Which of the following is NOT a dependency that marine animals may have on coral reefs? Hint

Use as a habitat

Venue for reproductive activities

Source of food

All of these are dependencies that marine animals may have on coral reefs

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5. Which of the following feed on the coral algae but are so violent that they can destroy up to 5 tons of coral per year? Hint

parrot fish

moray eels

basket starfish

lionfish

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6. A polyp can grow its exoskeleton by several inches in a year.

True

False

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7. Periodically, algae can be ejected from the coral in a process known as coral bleaching. What is the primary reason for this ejection? Hint

This is part of a natural cycle that occurs every 6 months

Stress on the polyps.

The algae becomes too heavy for the coral to support

The coral is getting ready to die

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8. Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor in coral bleaching? Hint

Ocean temperature

Age of the coral

Overfishing of an area

Increase acidity of the ocean

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9. Crown of thorns starfish feeds on the coral polyps. Which of the following is a deterrent to this destruction of the coral? Hint

The calcyx completely protects the polyps

The coral releases an enzyme which the crown of thorns dislikes

Small crabs living in the coral will fight the starfish

The polyps sting the starfish

NEXT>

10. What happens if one coral comes into contact with another during growth? Hint

The two corals will battle violently over the encroachment

As one approaches, both corals emit enzymes to cause the other to withdraw to a safe distance

They will merge to form a new larger coral

It will trigger an immediate reproductive process

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. It is well-known that corals are marine animals where the large reef-forming organism is comprised of many small individual "unit" animals. What are these coral units called?

Answer: polyps

These polyps have a mouth and tentacles which is used to for feeding and defense. The base of the polyp is an exoskeleton called the calyx which serves as protection when the polyps contracts into it. As these calices grown and extend, over many generations of polyps, the reef is formed.

2. What is the primary food source for most corals?

Answer: microscopic algae

Although the polyps can use tentacles to feed on plankton, 98% of the coral's food comes from the microscopic algae living on it. The coral will use pigments to regulate the amount of light on the algae to maintain it. It is the algae which causes the coloration of the coral reef. The algae benefit from living on the structure and from the waste produced by the polyps.

3. How do corals reproduce?

Answer: Both sexual and asexual reproduction

Some coral reproduction is asexual where new polyps will bud from a mature coral. However, most of the reproduction is sexual in a process which is timed to release eggs and sperm into the ocean all at the same time. Once fertilization occurs, microscopic larvae form and will find a surface where they can attach and develop into a polyp.

4. Which of the following is NOT a dependency that marine animals may have on coral reefs?

Answer: All of these are dependencies that marine animals may have on coral reefs

25% of all ocean animals rely on coral for survival. Many species use the reef for their home, many for hunting other fish, many for feeding on the coral and many for reproducing offspring. Loss of coral reef can have a huge impact on this ecosystem.

5. Which of the following feed on the coral algae but are so violent that they can destroy up to 5 tons of coral per year?

Answer: parrot fish

Parrot fish can feed voraciously and will reduce some of the coral to sand. This sand will eventually make its way to form tropical islands.

6. A polyp can grow its exoskeleton by several inches in a year.

Answer: True

Most of this 6-8 inches growth occurs during daylight hours since it is a light-dependent process.

7. Periodically, algae can be ejected from the coral in a process known as coral bleaching. What is the primary reason for this ejection?

Answer: Stress on the polyps.

Maintaining a symbiotic balance with algae requires optimal conditions for the polyps. When under stressful conditions, the coral will actually eject the algae and after the stress has been eliminated will reacquire it. Should the coral be unable to acquire the algae, the polyps will starve and die. The process of re-establishing the algae can take up to several months.

8. Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor in coral bleaching?

Answer: Age of the coral

To maintain the algae, the polyps need to have an optimal range of ocean temperatures, salinity and pH. Overfishing an area can reduce the plankton population which is also part of the reef's nutrition. Humans obviously have a great deal of impact on the health of the coral.

9. Crown of thorns starfish feeds on the coral polyps. Which of the following is a deterrent to this destruction of the coral?

Answer: Small crabs living in the coral will fight the starfish

The small crabs which live in the reef will use their sharp claws to attack the crown of thorns starfish in order to defend their home. This in turn protects the polyps which are vulnerable to the predator.

10. What happens if one coral comes into contact with another during growth?

Answer: The two corals will battle violently over the encroachment

This is a border dispute and it is absolutely astonishing how violent the battle can get (on the coral scale). The polyps will extrude their guts to expose poisonous stinging tentacles which attack the intruding coral. Eventually, the encroacher will withdraw.

Source: Author pshelton

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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