Ocean Ecosystems

Marine life can be found everywhere the sea touches, from the highest tide line along the beach to the deepest ocean trench. The ecosystems inhabited by marine organisms are diverse. Classified based on the their location near the shore, in the water column, or along the sea floor, marine ecosystems share many of the same physical dynamics associated with an underwater environment.

Appropriate grade range: 9-12

Learning Goals

Compare and contract the many different ecosystems found in the ocean.
Analyze the biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) parts that make up each marine ecosystem.
Recognize that marine ecosystems are classified based on where they are found.
Assess the unique physical factors that impact life in the ocean.
Prove that life in the ocean is interconnected.