Marine biologyLesson 1 of 4 in the course Marine ecosystems

Marine Ecosystems: Zones, Coastal Habitats, and Conservation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Marine ecosystems are saltwater environments that cover most of Earth’s surface and support a remarkable variety of life. Understanding their basic features and zones helps explain where organisms live and how ocean habitats differ.

A marine ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with one another and with the physical conditions of a saltwater environment. Marine waters cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface, contain more than 97% of Earth’s water, and make up about 90% of its habitable space.

All flashcards

Ecosystem services
Benefits people receive from ecosystems, including resources, coastal protection, and recreation.
Fish population surveys
Bottom-trawl and acoustic surveys can help assess fish abundance and biodiversity.
Marine heat wave
A period of unusually warm ocean conditions that can stress marine ecosystems.
Seagrass meadow
An underwater habitat formed by flowering plants that provides food, shelter, and nursery habitat.
Ocean acidification
A change in seawater chemistry that occurs as the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide.

Quiz questions

  1. What are coral reefs primarily built from?Answer: Colonies of corals.
  2. Which adaptations help mangroves live in salty, oxygen-poor soils?Answer: Salt excretion and root aeration.
  3. What organisms form kelp forests?Answer: Large brown algae.
  4. What can form the base of food webs at deep-sea hydrothermal vents?Answer: Sulfur bacteria using chemical energy.
  5. What is the central aim of Sustainable Development Goal 14?Answer: Conserve and sustainably use oceans and marine resources.

Based on the Wikipedia article Marine ecosystem, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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