Which habitat types in the figure cover the largest area?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, examine what the question is asking: which habitat types cover the largest area according to the figure provided.
Option a: 'a. Algal beds and reefs plus the ocean neritic zone' suggests a combination of coastal, shallower habitats. While these habitats are significant in productivity, their total area on a global scale is much smaller than the open ocean, so this option overestimates the extent of coastal zones relative to the entire planet.
Option b: 'b. Wetlands plus the ocean neritic zone' again pairs coastal or nearshore systems with wetlands. Wetlands are important but occupy a relatively small fraction of Earth's surface compared with the vast expanse of the open ocean; the neritic zone is the shallow part of the ocean above the continental shelf, which does not approach the total area of the open ocean.
Option c: 'c. Open ocean' refers to the vast pelagic waters beyond nearshore areas. The open ocean covers the largest portion of Earth's surface, far exceeding land habitats and coastal zones in terms of area, which is why this is typically the correct choice when asked about largest habitat area.
Option d: 'd. Tropical wet forest plus the ocean neritic zone' combines a relatively large land habitat with a nearshore marine zone, but tropical forests, while extensive, do not surpass the combined expanse of the open ocean, and the neritic zone is still only a fraction compared to the open ocean’s area.
In summary, the open ocean constitutes the majority of Earth's surface area, whereas all the other options refer to regional or coastal habitats that collectively occupy far less space. This reflects the general understanding that the oceanic expanse dwarfs other habitat types in terms of area.

BIO 112-004 - Spring 2025: Biological Concepts and Methods I I (Lecture)

Which habitat types in the figure cover the largest area?

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