Woods Hole Science Aquarium

Gathering Information - Answer sheet

Nearly 100 high school students participating in the Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Marine Environmental Symposium visited the aquarium April 29. Some of the students tried answering questions about the animals in the aquarium.

The best answer sheet was turned in by Chris McManus of Dedham High School, closely followed by Chris Andrikas of Cranston High School West. Here are the correct answers.

1. What is the scientific name for Atlantic cod?

Gadus morhua

2. What are three of the threats to endangered Atlantic salmon in U.S. waters?

Salmon face many threats, including disease, loss or degradation of habitat, low water, dams, changes in pH or water temperature, competition from escaped farmed salmon

3. The chain dogfish is a member of what family?

catshark (Sycliorhinidae)

4. List one right-eyed flatfish and one left-eyed flatfish living in the aquarium.

right-eyed include winter flounder, hogchoker, Atlantic halibut; left-eyed include windowpane

5. Why are scientists looking to marine organisms for new medicines to treat disease?

Many infectious organisms have developed resistance to plant- and soil-based drugs.

6. Kemp's ridley turtles are found cold-stunned on Cape Cod beaches almost every fall. Why do we not find leatherback turtles cold-stunned on our beaches?

Leather-backs are warm blooded, so they are not as susceptible to changes in water temperature as cold-blooded Kemp's ridleys.

7. Which species in the aquarium has had a ride aboard the space shuttle?

toadfish

8. What are two main threats to endangered right whales in New England waters?

entanglement in fishing gear and collision with ships

9. What animal can begin life as a female, and turn into a male as it gets older?

black sea bass

10. Georges Bank is famous for being one of the world's __________________________?

most productive fishing grounds

11. Lobsters don't mate until right after what occurs?

the female molts and her shell is soft

12. What do scientists look at to determine the age of fish?

otoliths (ear bones) or scales

13. Right whales are protected by what two laws?

the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act

14. How many teeth can an individual shark shed in a lifetime?

30,000

15. List one thing you can do to help prevent bioinvasions:

If you go fishing: do not release bait into the water

If you go boating: remove plants, wash your boat and let it dry

If you have an aquarium: dispose of plants and fish in the trash

Tie Breaker: How many species of marine organisms are on display in the aquarium?

approximately 140

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