A marine biologist designs a study to measure net primary productivity in the world's oceans. She travels to the coastal zone of each continent, takes measurements from north, south, east and west points along the continent, and combines her data into a global average. Will these measurements be accurate?
A) No, because ocean productivity is greatest past the intertidal zone.
B) Yes, but only if she is sure to sample different climatic zones carefully, because production in different climatic zones may vary by an order of magnitude.
C) No, because the continental edges have higher productivities than the open ocean.
D) No, because ocean life is greatest near the poles and decreases toward the equator.
E) Yes, because although production in different climate zones differs, the open ocean is well mixed because of strong ocean circulation patterns.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

C) No, because the continental edges have higher productivities than the open ocean. This is due to the fact that coastal zones often have higher nutrient levels from land runoff, leading to greater primary productivity compared to the more nutrient-poor open ocean.

A Marine Biologist Designs a Study to Measure Net Primary