Marine ecosystem examples grade 8

📚 Quick Study Guide

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• Marine Ecosystems: These are aquatic environments with saltwater. They're super diverse and crucial for our planet's health!
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• Key Factors: Sunlight, temperature, salinity (salt level), and nutrient availability determine what lives where.
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• Types: Examples include coral reefs, deep sea, estuaries, and the open ocean. Each has unique characteristics.
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• Coral Reefs: Often called the "rainforests of the sea" due to their high biodiversity. They're built by tiny animals called coral polyps.
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• Deep Sea: The largest ecosystem on Earth, characterized by darkness, cold temperatures, and high pressure. Organisms here have amazing adaptations!
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• Estuaries: Where freshwater rivers meet the saltwater ocean. They're nurseries for many marine species and filter pollutants.
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• Open Ocean: The vast expanse of the ocean, home to plankton, fish, marine mammals, and more.
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• Food Webs: Complex networks of who eats whom. Disruptions can have significant consequences.
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• Salinity: It defines how salty the water is. The average salinity of ocean water is 35 parts per thousand (ppt).
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• Human Impact: Pollution, overfishing, and climate change are major threats to marine ecosystems.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a key characteristic of a marine ecosystem?
   1. A. Freshwater environment
   2. B. Saltwater environment
   3. C. Dominated by land plants
   4. D. Lack of biodiversity
2. What is the primary builder of coral reefs?
   1. A. Fish
   2. B. Coral polyps
   3. C. Seaweed
   4. D. Sharks
3. Which marine ecosystem is characterized by darkness, cold temperatures, and high pressure?
   1. A. Estuary
   2. B. Coral reef
   3. C. Deep sea
   4. D. Open ocean
4. What is an estuary?
   1. A. A freshwater lake
   2. B. Where a river meets the ocean
   3. C. A desert environment
   4. D. A mountain range
5. Which of these factors does NOT affect marine ecosystems significantly?
   1. A. Sunlight
   2. B. Temperature
   3. C. Soil type
   4. D. Salinity
6. Which of the following is a major threat to marine ecosystems?
   1. A. Conservation efforts
   2. B. Pollution
   3. C. Sustainable fishing
   4. D. Increased biodiversity
7. What is the average salinity of ocean water?
   1. A. 10 ppt
   2. B. 20 ppt
   3. C. 35 ppt
   4. D. 50 ppt