Marine Ecosystems
Name one marine ecosystem.
Coral reef, kelp forest, open ocean, sea grass beds, deep sea
What is the name of the adaptation that allows some deep-sea animals to produce their own light?
Bioluminescence
In a marine food web, what is the main source of energy for producers like phytoplankton?
Sunlight
What type of pollution is caused by plastic bags, bottles, and wrappers entering the ocean?
Plastic Pollution
What is one action people can take to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean?
Use reusable bags or bottles (other correct answers: recycle, pick up trash, avoid single-use plastic)
Name one biotic factor of the open ocean.
any type of whale, sea turtle, migratory birds, large fish, phyotoplankton or zooplankton
What is one adaptation that help fish OR sharks with their buoyancy?
swim bladder (fish); large liver (sharks)
What forms the base of all marine food webs?
Phytoplankton
What gas released by burning fossil fuels is the main cause of climate change?
Carbon dioxide
What is one type of marine animal often harmed by getting caught in fishing nets by accident?
Sea turtles, sharks, dolphins
What is an abiotic factor?
a nonliving characteristic that affects an ecosystem
What adaptation allows sea otters to stay warm in cold ocean water?
Thick fur/coat
What do we call animals that eat only plants or algae in the ocean?
Herbivores (or primary consumers)
How does climate change affect coral reefs by warming the ocean?
Coral bleaching
What do we call special areas in the ocean where fishing and other harmful activities are limited to protect ecosystems?
Marine Protected Areas
The black sea bass is a part of what marine ecosystem?
Kelp forest
What do we call the body shape that helps fish swim quickly through water?
Streamlined
Name one type of phytoplankton.
Cocolithophores, diatoms, or dinoflagelettes
How does ocean acidification affect marine organisms?
Makes their shells harder to grow/weaker
Why is it important to protect top predators like sharks in the ocean?
Keep the ecosystem & food web balanced
Why are mangrove ecosystems important?
Nursery for baby fish!
What is the special sense organ that fish use to detect vibrations and movement in the water around them?
Lateral line
Name one type of zooplankton.
krill, jellyfish, any type of larvae, copeopod
What can happen in the ocean when fertilizer runoff from land adds too many nutrients to the water?
Harmful Algal Blooms
Why is reducing carbon emissions important for protecting the ocean?
It helps prevent ocean warming and acidification