Dead Zones

What is the primary cause of the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico?

• Overfishing

• Oil spills

• Reduced oxygen levels

• Plastic pollution

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What phenomenon leads to the formation of the Dead Zone?

• Sedimentation

• Acidification

• Eutrophication

• Hypoxia

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

How has the Dead Zone affected the coastal habitats of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas?

• Improved water quality

• Changed composition of habitats

• Increased biodiversity

• Reduced coastal erosion

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

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What percentage of the nation's seafood is provided by fishermen affected by the Dead Zone?

• 50%

• 30%

• 20%

• 40%

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What are the two main nutrient fertilizers used in conventional farming?

• Nitrogen and Calcium

• Nitrogen and Potassium

• Phosphorus and Potassium

• Phosphorus and Nitrogen

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NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Which industry is frequently blamed for the increase in algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico?

• Fishing industry

• Tourism industry

• Oil industry

• Meat industry

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What event in 2014 left over 500,000 residents without safe drinking water?

• Hurricane Katrina

• Toledo algal bloom

• Deepwater Horizon spill

• BP oil spill

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

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What is one potential solution to reduce excess fertilizer use?

• Using more synthetic fertilizers

• Increasing meat consumption

• Creating buffer zones

• Expanding industrial farms

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NGSS.MS-ESS3-3

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What role do food distributors and buyers play in addressing the Dead Zone issue?

• Reducing crop diversity

• Promoting unsustainable practices

• Establishing sustainable practices

• Increasing fertilizer use

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NGSS.HS-ESS3-4

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Some areas of the ocean are known as dead zones. These zones form when excess organic material decomposes. This increased decomposition uses up the oxygen from the water.

Which human activity is most affected by the increasing number of dead zones in the ocean?

• Offshore oil drilling, because water in dead zones is toxic

• Commercial fishing, because fish cannot survive without oxygen

• Commercial shipping, because dead zones change the course of ocean currents

• Sand mining, because oxygen is not available to form the sands on ocean beaches

Answer explanation

Commercial fishing is most affected by dead zones because the lack of oxygen makes it impossible for fish to survive. This directly impacts fish populations and the fishing industry.

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NGSS.HS-LS2-6

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