Question

During coastal upwelling, nutrient-rich water rises from the ocean floor to the surface to replace water that has been blown away or moved by currents. How would this most likely change the abiotic components of the ecosystem near the surface where the upwelling is taking place?

A.)Increase in temperature
B.)Decrease in oxygen content
C.)Increase in competition for resources
D.)Decrease in species diversity

Answer 1

Decrease in species diversity

Answer 2

Answer: A. Increase in temperature

Coastal upwelling is the process in which the deep water rises above the top most water level as the wind pushes water offshore. Nutrients which are present in the bottom layer get available to organisms living in the uppermost layer. The deeper water lacks oxygen because the decomposition of organic matter at the bottom of the water body consumes up available oxygen. Also, because of these water layer turnover will result in thermocline: temperature variation among the layers of water. Bottom layer water because of such decomposition processes will have more temperature when this water rises in the upper layer due to upwelling this will increase the temperature of the upper layer.