Question

List one factor that you imagine would limit settlement on top of living organisms. The panels hang vertically from the side of a dock. Animals such as crabs and snails live on the dock and can crawl onto the panels. The ocean can be stormy at times, and heavy rains mix freshwater into the ocean surface waters.

Answer 1

Factors such as availability of sunlight, dissolved oxygen content, and extreme environmental conditions like water pressure and chemicals from hydrothermal vents limit settlement on top of living organisms in oceanic environments.

Step-by-step explanation:

One factor that could limit settlement on top of living organisms in the ocean is the availability of sunlight. Sunlight is critical for the survival of many marine ecosystems, particularly those that host photosynthetic organisms, such as algae, which form the base of the food web. In the deeper ocean zones, where sunlight cannot penetrate, organisms have adapted to living in complete darkness, often clustering around hydrothermal vents for warmth and nutrients.

Another limiting factor is the dissolved oxygen content in the water. Aquatic organisms need oxygen to survive, and areas with low dissolved oxygen can be inhospitable for marine life. The concentration of oxygen can fluctuate based on factors like temperature, movement, and salt content.

Additionally, extreme environmental conditions such as water pressure, temperature, and chemicals released from hydrothermal vents can limit the types of organisms that are able to settle and thrive in specific ocean zones. For instance, chemoautotrophs are one of the few organisms that can survive the toxic chemicals near hydrothermal vents by converting them into energy and food.