Ocean Ecosystems

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Explore the interconnected web of life in our oceans, from coral reefs to the open sea.

1.
What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by oceans?
A
80%
B
60%
C
50%
D
71%
2.
Coral reefs are sometimes called the 'rainforests of the sea' because they support what?
A
An enormous diversity of species
B
The tallest marine plants
C
The most rainfall
D
The deepest waters
3.
What tiny organisms form the base of most ocean food chains?
A
Krill
B
Phytoplankton
C
Coral polyps
D
Seaweed
4.
Mangrove forests along coastlines serve what important ecological function?
A
Producing oxygen for deep-sea creatures
B
Creating coral reefs
C
Filtering salt from ocean water
D
Providing nursery habitat for many fish species
5.
What is ocean acidification primarily caused by?
A
Volcanic eruptions
B
Overfishing
C
Oil spills
D
Absorption of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
6.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an accumulation of what in the ocean?
A
Seaweed
B
Plastic debris
C
Volcanic rock
D
Shipwrecks
7.
Kelp forests are found primarily in which type of ocean waters?
A
Deep ocean waters
B
Cool, nutrient-rich coastal waters
C
Arctic waters
D
Tropical warm waters
8.
What is the term for the zone where a river meets the ocean?
A
Fjord
B
Estuary
C
Lagoon
D
Delta
9.
Sea otters help maintain kelp forest ecosystems by eating what?
A
Kelp
B
Fish
C
Sea urchins
D
Starfish
10.
What phenomenon causes mass coral bleaching events?
A
Increased wave activity
B
Rising water temperatures
C
Decreased sunlight
D
Increased salinity
11.
Which ocean zone receives no sunlight at all?
A
Aphotic zone
B
Mesopelagic zone
C
Bathypelagic zone
D
Epipelagic zone
12.
What is the term for the massive movement of deep-sea creatures toward the surface at night?
A
Upwelling
B
Ocean current
C
Tidal surge
D
Diel vertical migration
13.
Seagrass meadows are important because they absorb carbon dioxide at what rate compared to forests?
A
Twice as fast
B
Half as fast
C
Up to 35 times faster
D
The same rate
14.
Which type of symbiotic relationship exists between clownfish and sea anemones?
A
Mutualism
B
Commensalism
C
Competition
D
Parasitism
15.
Approximately what percentage of the world's oxygen is produced by ocean organisms?
A
50%
B
35%
C
20%
D
70%

Find more free puzzles and brain games at www.SeniorBrainGames.org