Gases and elements in the Ocean, Coral Reefs, and Estuaries
Gases and elements
(use my notes on my page under class links and resources to fill in these quick notes)
Gases
 The most abundant gases in ocean water are __________________, ______________
________________and __________________.

The amounts of these elements vary with _________________. They are more abundant at the
ocean’s _____________________ where sunlight causes more _________________ _____________.
Elements
• Ocean water is 96% ______________ _____________________.
• ___________________ (1.9) and ____________ (1.1) make up the next largest concentration of
elements.
• (sodium chloride is table salt)
•
•
•
__________________________ describes the amount of dissolved salt in the ocean.
Salinity is expressed in parts per thousand.
The average salinity of the ocean is ______________ parts per thousand.
Coral reefs
(use the website I have provided on my web page under the “coral reef” section to answer the following
questions). Use the sections I have labeled on this sheet to guide you through the website in order to find the
answers.
Location
1. Where are coral reefs typically found?
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the name of the largest reef in the world? Where is it located? How long is it?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Habitat
1. Why do reefs usually develop in areas where there is a lot of wave action?
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What do reefs need from the water in order to grow?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Plants
The coral poly gives what a home, and what does the coral polyp give it through respiration?
________________________________________________________________________________
Animals
1. Coral reefs make up about what percentage of the ocean floor? ___________
2. About what percentage of life do coral reefs house? _________
3. What are the most abundant animals in the reefs? _________________________________________
4. Other than the coral polyps, what other animals live in the coral reefs?
____________________________________________________________________________________
People and Coral Reefs
1. Name three reasons why coral reef ecosystems are important? (give me the 1st 3 listed)
1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________________________
2. True or False? Reefs are a big source of biodiversity, and without the reefs many plants and animals
would die. ________________________
3. Coral reefs are being destroyed at an alarming rate. It estimated that we have already lost what
percentage of the worlds reefs? _________________________
4. The destruction of these reefs are often connected with human activity. Give 6 examples of human
activity that are aiding in the destruction of these reefs.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Estuaries
•
An environment along the ___________________ ____________________
•
Is a _________________ ________________ or bay where _______________ water from a
________________________ mixes with _________________ ____________________ water.
•
Water is known as ___________________________.