Ocean ecosystem and currents
What Is the Largest Marine ecosystem On Earth?
The ocean
Where do most marine plants and algae live?
Sunlight zone
Who (or what) forms the base of the marine food web?
Phytoplankton
Which animal is the largest living marine mammal?
Blue whale
What main ingredient makes ocean water salty?
Sodium chloride (salt)
Which ecosystem is known as the "rainforest of the sea"?
Coral reef
Why do marine plants need sunlight?
For photosynthesis
When do many deep-sea animals migrate to upper waters to feed?
At night
Where are hydrothermal vents located?
Ocean floor
What gas do marine plants release into the water and atmosphere?
Oxygen
How do ocean currents affect ocean temperature?
They distribute heat
What happens to water pressure as you go deeper into the ocean?
It increases
Where is the intertidal zone located?
Between tides
Which organism is the main builder of coral reefs?
Coral polpys
Why are coastal estuaries important for young marine animals?
Safe nurseries
Why does ocean acidification harm shell-building marine species?
Dissolves calcium carbonate
Which biological process allows deep-sea creatures to produce energy without light?
Chemosynthesis
What benefit do mangrove forests provide to coastal areas?
Erosion protection
Where does the ocean's "Twilight Zone" (mesopelagic zone) lie?
200- 1,000 meters deep
How do kelp forests help combat ocean acidification locally?
Absorbing carbon dioxide
How does ocean upwelling bring rich food sources to the surface?
Lifts deep nutrients
What causes marine "dead zones" (hypoxic areas) to form?
Why is the ocean's biological carbon pump important for Earth?
Stores carbon deep
Which compound do hydrothermal vent bacteria convert into chemical energy?
Hydrogen sulfide
What process triggers massive coral bleaching events worldwide?
Thermal stress