Question

Which of the following observations indicates a way in which a biological element affects coastline erosion?

A: The beach and near beach environment is home to many species.
B: The storm surge associated with a hurricane can rapidly remove tons of sand.
C: Coral reefs absorb 90% of the energy of wind-generated waves.
D: Crustaceans, like the blue crab, are a food source for many other organisms.

Answer 1

Coral reefs significantly mitigate coastline erosion by absorbing 90% of the energy from wind-generated waves, serving as natural breakwaters and protecting shorelines from erosion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The observation indicating a way in which a biological element affects coastline erosion is: C: Coral reefs absorb 90% of the energy of wind-generated waves. Coral reefs serve as natural breakwaters, which reduce the power of the waves before they hit the shoreline, thereby reducing coastline erosion. This biological contribution is vital for protecting coastlines and maintaining beach stability.

As for the other options, although they are related to marine biology, they don't directly indicate how a biological element affects coastline erosion. For instance, although crustaceans like the blue crab are important for food webs in marine environments, they don't have a direct impact on preventing or promoting coastline erosion.