1. Assume that Region A consists of a body of ocean water that has the following

Question

1. Assume that Region A consists of a body of ocean water that has the following dimensions:

10 m deep by 10 km wide by 100 km long. [Hint: Express the volume in liters.]

2. Researchers used a suitably equipped ship and measured the NPP of region A by using the carbon-14 method; and they determined that the average NPP of the region is 0.85 mgC/L. [Hint: Noting the average NPP in a liter is given, determine NPP over the entire volume of water at Region A. Pay attention to units. Read pages 331-333 in textbook to remind you what NPP is.]

3. Determine the amount of Level 3 organisms in region A. [Hint. Know the transfer efficiency (TE) for the body of water, in this case the open ocean, from Table 12-3, p.333 in your textbook. Read P. 339 in the textbook to remind you of trophic dynamics and the energy pyramid or food chain. Amount of zooplankton in Level 2 is obtained by multiplying NPP by TE. Use similar logic to determine amount in Level 3.]

4. Describe abundances of 12C, 13C. and 14C. [Hint: Google to find out abundance of carbon isotopes.] Assume that 14C is converted to organic carbon in the same proportion as 12C. Why are trace amounts of 14C spiked for measurements [Hint : Read p. 331-332 of textbook.] Briefly state how cabon-14 is used for determining NPP.

Explanation / Answer

1) Depth = 10 m

Width =10 km = 10 * 10^3 m =10^4 m

Length =100 km =100* 10^3 m =10^5 m

Volume = Length * Width * Depth

= 10^5 m * 10^4 m * 10 m

= 10^10 m^3

1 m^3 =10^3 liters

So volume = 10^10 m^3

=10^10* 10^3 liters

=10^13 liters

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