Ocean 3 Vocab

Front

nekton

Back

Free-swimming organisms that can move independently of currents.

Front

Plankton

Back

Tiny organisms moved by ocean currents.

Front

Benthos

Back

Plants and animals that live in, on, or near the ocean bottom.

Front

Hydrothermal vents

Back

Cracks in the ocean crust releasing heated, mineral-rich water.

Front

Producer

Back

An organism that makes its own food.

Front

Decomposer

Back

An organism that breaks down dead organisms for food and energy.

Front

Consumer

Back

An organism that obtains its food by eating other organisms.

Front

Food chain

Back

Flow of energy from one organism to the next in an ecosystem.

Front

Food web

Back

Interconnected network of food chains in an ecosystem.

Front

Trophic level

Back

Each feeding level (producer, primary, secondary consumer) in an ecosystem.