Ocean Ecosystems
What do scientists call living things in an ecosystem, like coral or fish>
Biotic factors
What do we call organisms that make their own food using sunlight?
Producers
What type of scientist studies ocean animals and ecosystems?
Marine Biologist
If two ideas contradict each other, what does that mean?
They show the opposite
What is the main source of energy for most ocean food chains?
The sun
What do scientists call nonliving things in the ocean, like salt or sunlight?
Abiotic factors
What type of organism eats other organisms for energy?
Consumers
Which of these is NOT a job of a marine biologist: studying animals, collecting data, or making laws?
Making laws
Which word describes animals getting wrapped up in fishing nets?
entangled
Why are producers usually found near the top of the ocean?
Because they need sunlight to make food
Which ocean zone has the most sunlight and supports the most producers?
The sunlight zone
What do decomposers eat to get energy?
Dead material or detritus (like marine snow)
What is bioluminescence used for by some deep-sea predators?
To attract prey
What does migration mean when talking about animals?
Moving from one place to another, often seasonally
How are kelp and coral different?
Kelp is a type of alge and coral is an animal
Why are mangrove forests and estuaries usually found near coastlines?
They need shallow water and protection from strong ocean waves
In a food chain, how many steps away is a secondary consumer from the sun?
Two steps
What causes large ocean gyres to form?
Ocean currents
What does adaptation mean in science?
A characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment
Why are estuaries important to ocean ecosystems?
They provide safe habitats and food for many organisms
Explain one way plastic pollution harms ocean ecosystems.
Plastic can contain toxins, block sunlight, or make animals sick if eaten
Explain why energy decreases as you move up a trophic pyramid.
Energy is lost at each level as heat and through living processes
Explain how trash can end up in the middle of the ocean.
Currents carry trash into gyres where it becomes trapped
Use the word “clusters” correctly in a sentence.
(teachers check for correct answer)
Explain how human actions can change ocean ecosystems—for better or worse.
Pollution can harm ecosystems; conservation and cleanups can help