SALTWATER
ECOSYSTEMS
Oceans cover much of the Earth’s surface.
Around ¾ (or 75%) of the Earth is water!
Ocean water contains SALT.
The ocean is shallow along the shore.
Clams, crabs, kelp, fish, and coral live there.
Otters, seals, and sea birds swim and dive for
fish.
The open ocean gets very deep, but most
life is in the top 200 meters of water.
The deep ocean is dark and cold, and it has
little food. Few animals live there.
Many rivers
flow into
the ocean.
Fresh water from rivers can mix with
salt water from the ocean.
Salt marshes can
form in these areas.
Salt marshes
are wetlands
that contain
special plants
and animals.
These living things are able to
live in salty water and soil.
Salt marshes also contain tiny
living animals that are too small
to see with your eye.
Longest animal
Blue whale (33 meters long!)
Longest fish
Whale shark (12 meters long!)
Fastest
ocean
animal
108
km/hr
The Great
Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a huge
coral reef.
It is along the eastern coast of Australia.
A coral is an animal about the size of
an ant.
It builds a hard, rocky skeleton around
itself for protection.
Millions of
corals
build a
coral reef.