Freshwater Basics
Water that contains very low amounts of salt is called __________.
What is freshwater?
The shallow zone near the shore where sunlight reaches the bottom.
What is the littoral zone?
A place where fresh and saltwater mix.
What is an estuary?
Coral reefs are built from limestone structures created by tiny animals called __________.
What are Polyps
People who live near the ocean can harm ecosystems by dumping waste and increasing __________.
What is pollution
Freshwater ecosystems include rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and __________.
What are wetlands?
The bottom region of a lake or pond where decomposers live.
What is the benthic zone?
Coastal wetlands dominated by grasses; often found along estuaries.
What are salt marshes?
Coral reefs must stay in warm, tropical waters and receive lots of __________.
People far from the ocean harm marine ecosystems through __________ that travels downstream.
What is runoff
Wetlands trap sediments, filter pollutants, reduce floods, and buffer against __________.
What is erosion?
Creatures that live on or near the bottom of a body of water (also in ocean water environments).
What are benthos?
Warm coastal wetlands dominated by salt-tolerant trees.
What are mangrove swamps?
Coral reefs contain 25% of all marine life because they provide…
What are many niches and abundant shelter?
Removing too many fish from the ocean faster than they can reproduce.
What is overfishing
This process happens when nutrients build up in water, causing algae growth.
What is eutrophication?
Organisms that drift with water currents in both freshwater and marine ecosystems
What are plankton?
Sandy islands that protect the mainland from storms and waves.
What are barrier islands?
A major threat to coral reefs caused by warming water.
What is Coral Bleaching
Oil spills, plastic waste, and chemical runoff are all examples of __________ pollution.
What is water pollution
Plankton, nekton, and benthos are the three main types of __________.
What are aquatic organisms?
Actively swimming aquatic animals like fish and whales are called __________ (exists in ocean water too).
What is Nekton
Marine ecosystems include coastal ecosystems, open ocean, deep ocean, and __________.
What are polar ecosystems?
List one danger to coral reefs.
-pollution
– overfishing
– sediment runoff
– tourism damage
– warming oceans
– boat anchors
Coral bleaching occurs when corals lose the symbiotic algae they depend on because of __________.
What is increased water temperature?