Exploring Marine Biomes: Ocean Characteristics

Upon viewing the Exploring Marine Biomes video series, students will be able to do the following: Explain that oceans cover about 70% of Earth's surface. List some of the reasons oceans are important to the planet and to living things: - the oceans help create the relatively moderate, stable climate of the planet. - the marine biome provides habitat to a wide variety of living things. - the oceans provide a great deal of our food. - organisms in the oceans produce much of the oxygen we consume. State that salinity is a measure of dissolved salts in water. Ocean water has a high salinity compared to fresh water. Understand that salinity and water temperature vary throughout the oceans. Explain how the following change as depth increases: - light decreases with increasing depth - pressure increases with increasing depth - water temperature decreases as depth increases Describe the intertidal zone, and list some of the organisms that live there. Describe the location of the neritic zone, and describe some of the organisms that live in the zone. Describe the pelagic zone, and list some of the organisms that live in this zone. Explain where the benthic zone is located and list some examples of organisms that live in the benthic zone. Understand that an estuary is an area of high biological productivity, and is found where salt water and fresh water mix.