Exam Questions

Question 1

Transgenerational Study—Can It Differentiate Between Transgenerational Effects and Phenotypic Plasticity?

Answer 1

Question 2

Combined Effect of Acidification and Copper on Tropic Coral (Stylophora pistillata)—Problems with the Paper

Answer 2

Question 3

What is a multifactorial experimental design, and why is it important in environmental studies?

Answer 3

Question 4

If there is limited space and not all combinations of factors can be tested, what approach can be taken?

Answer 4

Question 5

What is pseudoreplication, and how can it affect an experiment’s validity?

Answer 5

Question 6

Why should the “tank” be included as a random factor in the design?

Answer 6

Question 7

How many replicates are typically recommended for experiments involving random factors?

Answer 7

At least three replicates per factor level.

Question 8

How can “time” be included as a factor in an orthogonal design?

Answer 8

Question 9

(Cryer paper)

What were the main problems with the Cryer paper on corals (Stylophora pistillata)?

Answer 9

Question 10

What statistical mistake did the Cryer paper make?

Answer 10

Question 11

(Cryer paper)

Why was the lack of feeding during the experiment problematic?

Answer 11

Starvation weakened the corals, making it difficult to attribute changes to copper and OA stress rather than nutritional deficits.

Question 12

What is an orthogonal design in an experiment?

Answer 12

An experimental design where all factor levels are crossed, allowing independent and unbiased estimates of the effects of each factor and their interactions.

Question 13

What happens if space constraints prevent an orthogonal design?

Answer 13

Simplified designs (e.g., collapsing levels into combined future vs. current conditions) can be used, but interpretation is limited since factor interactions may be conflated.

Question 14

What does it mean for a red stress condition to become the “new ambient” condition?

Answer 14

Question 15

How can experiments differentiate between transgenerational effects and phenotypic plasticity?

Answer 15

Question 16

How can the number of tanks in an experiment be reduced without compromising the study’s validity?

Answer 16

Question 17

What is the hypothesis when polyps lose their coenosarc in response to environmental stress?

Answer 17

The colony may switch from a “colony survival” strategy to a “single-polyp survival” strategy due to resource limitations under stress.

Question 18

What considerations should be made when selecting sites and depths for field studies?

Answer 18

Question 19

Why is depth an important factor in studies involving corals or benthic organisms?

Answer 19

Depth affects light availability, temperature, and pressure, which can influence growth, reproduction, and survival.

Question 20

What was a major flaw in the marine heatwave (MHW) and caffeine study?

Answer 20

The experiment lacked a treatment group exposed to MHWs alone, making it difficult to isolate the effects of caffeine from those of temperature fluctuations.

Question 21

Why is it problematic if caffeine does not bioaccumulate in test species?

Answer 21

If caffeine is not absorbed by the organisms, it may not be representative of real-world exposure scenarios, questioning the ecological relevance of the results.

Question 22

What did the natural CO₂ vents in Ischia demonstrate about environmental adaptation?

Answer 22

Question 23

Draw and describe an experiment used to distinguish phenotypic plasticity and transgenerational effects in response to a stressor or combination of stressors.

Answer 23

Question 24

Describe random and fixed factors and design an experiment with both types of factors.

Answer 24

Question 25

Describe an experimental design aimed at showing the buffer effects of macroalgae.

Answer 25

Question 26

Define the experimental problem in Cryer et al.

Answer 26

Question 27

What were the objectives of the De Marchi et al. paper and how were they demonstrated through the experimental setup and results?

Answer 27

1. To investigate the toxic effects of caffeine (CAF) on two bioindicator species: the clam Ruditapes philippinarum and the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. 2. To determine if these effects were amplified by the presence of dynamic temperature fluctuations, simulating marine heatwaves (MHWs).

Question 28

Draw and describe an experiment used to distinguish phenotypic plasticity and transgenerational effects in response to a stressor or combination of stressors.

Answer 28

Question 29

Explain the difference between fixed and random factors with an example from an ecotoxicological context. Design an experiment to test the effects of a fixed factor (e.g., pH) and a random factor on the immune response of a marine bivalve.

Answer 29

**Experimental Design: Testing the Effects of a Fixed Factor (pH) and a Random Factor (Sampling Location) on the Immune Response of a Marine Bivalve** Objective: To investigate how pH (fixed factor) and location (random factor) influence the immune response of a marine bivalve species (e.g., Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Question 30

Discuss the importance of avoiding pseudoreplication in ecotoxicology studies. Propose a study to test heavy metal toxicity (e.g., copper) on marine invertebrates, ensuring no pseudoreplication occurs.

Answer 30

Question 31

Propose an experimental design to distinguish between phenotypic plasticity and transgenerational effects of ocean acidification in Pseudocalanus acuspes. Specify the generational treatments and expected outcomes.

Answer 31

Question 32

Explain how exposure to extreme CO₂ conditions (e.g., 1550 µatm) might irreversibly impact the reproductive output of a zooplankton species.

Answer 32

Question 33

Describe the use of biomarkers in ecotoxicology. Design a study to evaluate oxidative stress biomarkers in response to exposure to a common pollutant (e.g., copper or caffeine) in Chamelea gallina.

Answer 33

Question 34

What are lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes? How would you incorporate these as biomarkers to assess the effect of marine heatwaves on the physiological performance of Mytilus galloprovincialis?

Answer 34

Question 35

Identify three key design flaws in Cryer et al.'s study on coral responses to ocean acidification and copper exposure. Suggest modifications to improve the ecological relevance and statistical robustness of the study.

Answer 35

Question 36

In a study investigating the combined effects of caffeine and marine heatwaves, the researchers failed to include a control group for heatwaves alone. Discuss the implications of this omission and suggest an improved experimental setup.

Answer 36

Question 37

Design an experiment to test the hypothesis that Posidonia oceanica buffers the effects of ocean acidification on calcifying organisms. Specify the factors, levels, and dependent variables.

Answer 37

Question 38

Discuss the ecological importance of canopy-forming macroalgae in mitigating environmental stressors. How could this information guide conservation efforts in the Mediterranean Sea?

Answer 38

Question 39

Outline a multifactorial experiment to assess the interactive effects of salinity and pH on the immune response of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Include orthogonal factors, levels, and response variables.

Answer 39

Question 40

Explain the concept of hierarchical designs in experimental ecology. Provide an example where a factor (e.g., habitat type) is nested within another factor (e.g., region) to study variability in biomarker responses.

Answer 40

Question 41

Evaluate the findings from Teixido et al.’s study on coral phenotypic shifts under different pH levels. What does the transition from colonial forms to solitary polyps indicate about the survivability of calcifying species in low-pH environments?

Answer 41

Question 42

Discuss how diel changes in oxygen levels in vegetated coastal habitats can enhance the survival of marine ectotherms under warming conditions. Design an experiment to test this phenomenon.

Answer 42

Question 43

Discuss the appropriateness of using one-way ANOVA in multifactorial designs. Propose a more suitable statistical analysis for a study testing interactions between ocean acidification and temperature on coral growth.

Answer 43

Question 44

Explain the importance of replication in experimental designs. If space is limited and fewer tanks can be used, how would you modify an experiment to ensure reliable and valid results?

Answer 44

Question 45

how to proceed an experiment under limitations?

Answer 45