Also Assesses Item Types Multiple Choice Benchmark Clarification Content Limits Items may assess the concept of carrying capacity. Items may assess how population dynamics affect the population and pattern of distribution of marine life. Items may assess the types of population density, such as uniform, clumped, or random distribution. Items will not assess endangered species. Stimulus Attributes Illustrations or diagrams may be used. Response Attributes None specified. Sample Item Which of the following does NOT affect the carrying capacity of a species? A) food supply B) water supply *C) predation D) available space Reporting Category Organisms/Populations/Ecosystems Standard Interdependence Benchmark Number SC.912.L.17.2 Benchmark Explain the general distribution of life in aquatic systems as a function of chemistry, geography, light, depth, salinity, and temperature. Also Assesses SC.912.L.17.1 Item Types Multiple Choice Benchmark Clarification Students will discuss the characteristics of populations, such as number of individuals, age, structure, density, and pattern of distribution. Content Limits Items may assess how the chemistry of water, light availability, depth, salinity, temperature, and geography affect the distribution of marine life. Items will not assess how to calculate salinity. Items may assess the ocean life zones, such as photic zone, benthic zone, aphotic zone, oceanic zone, and neritic zone. Items may assess the marine lifestyles, such as neuston, plankton, nekton, and benthos. Items will not assess harmful algal blooms. Items will not assess compensation depth. Items will not assess the Principle of Constant Proportions, dissolved solids in
Sample Item In a marine ecosystem phytoplankton, zooplankton, small fish, and shark make up a food chain, in which the shark eats the fish, the fish eats the zooplankton, and the zooplankton eats the phytoplankton. If disease reduced the population of small fish, how would this affect the flow of energy in the system? A) The flow of energy would decrease between the phytoplankton and the sun. B) The flow of energy would increase between the phytoplankton and the small fish. *C) The flow of energy will decrease between the small fish and the shark. D) The flow of energy will increase between the phytoplankton and the shark. Reporting Category Organisms/Populations/Ecosystems Standard Interdependence Benchmark Number SC.912.L.17.10 Benchmark Diagram and explain the biogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem, including water, carbon, and nitrogen cycle. Also Assesses SC.912.E. 7.1 Item Types Multiple Choice Benchmark Clarification Students will analyze the movement of matter through biogeochemical cycles. Content Limits Items assessing biogeochemical cycles are limited to the water cycle or carbon cycle. Items will be limited to the role of the marine ecosystem in the biogeochemical cycle. Stimulus Attributes Illustrations or diagrams may be used.
Response Attributes None specified. Sample Item Which of the following describes a significant role that the oceans play in the movement of carbon through the ecosystem? A) Carbon dioxide is released by the shells of marine animals. *B) Carbon dioxide is used by phytoplankton during photosynthesis. C) Carbon dioxide is taken in by marine bacteria during decomposition. D) Carbon dioxide is absorbed by deep sea sediments. Reporting Category Organisms/Populations/Ecosystems Standard Interdependence Benchmark Number SC.912.L.17.11 Benchmark Evaluate the costs and benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources, such as water, energy, fossil fuels, wildlife, and forests. Also Assesses SC.912.N.1.5 Item Types Multiple Choice Benchmark Clarification Students will describe and provide examples of how similar investigations conducted in many parts of the world result in the same outcome. Content Limits Items assessing renewable and nonrenewable resources will be limited to resources from the oceans or those that directly impact the marine environment. Stimulus Attributes None specified. Response Attributes None specified. Sample Item What are the benefits of using tidal or wave power instead of fossil fuels? *A) Tidal and wave power are renewable. B) Tidal and wave power produce toxic waste. C) Tidal and wave power can be harnessed anywhere in the ocean. D) Tidal and wave power initial costs are very low. Reporting Category Organisms/Populations/Ecosystems Standard Interdependence Benchmark SC.912.L.17.16