1. ECOSYSTEMS OF THE OCEAN
SOL 5.6
Biological Characteristics

2. Physical Changes (Depth)
________________

3. What is an ecosystem?

4. The ocean ecosystem is made up of three main zones
The ocean ecosystem is made up of three main zones. What are the zones based upon?

5. SUNLIT ZONE
_________________________________

6. TWILIGHT ZONE Below the sunlit zone ________________________
High ________________
Less food (fewer animals)
Green plants do not grow here

7. MIDNIGHT ZONE Deepest part of the ocean _______________________
Greatest amount of pressure
Greater than any other place on the Earth’s surface
Covers 90% of the ocean’s space
Least amount of ocean life

8. The ocean is full of organisms and marine life.

10. PLANKTON How do they move in the water?
There are _______ types of plankton.
Phytoplankton
What type of plankton? _______________________
What do they need? _________________________
How do they make food? _____________________
Why are they important to our survival? _________________________________________
Zooplankton
What type of plankton? ________________________

11. NEKTON How do they move in the ocean?
The largest portion of familiar animals found in the ocean
Where do they live?
What are some examples?

12. BENTHOS
Where do they live in the ocean?
What are some examples?

13. FOOD WEB
Organisms in each zone affect other organisms in that zone and in other zones.

14. FOOD CHAIN Where are plants and phytoplankton on the food chain?
How do they survive?

15. FOOD CHAIN
Describe the ocean’s food chain.

16. Why do some scientists describe the ocean ecosystem more as a “web” than a “chain”?

17. OUR OCEAN ECOSYSTEM
What would happen if plankton ceased to exist?