Marine Life Zones and Sea Floor Features Review

Front

What is the continental shelf?

Back

The continental shelf is a submerged extension of a continent, characterized by shallow waters and a gradual slope, typically extending from the shoreline to the continental slope.

Front

What ocean floor feature is typically found near the shore?

Back

The continental shelf is the ocean floor feature that is typically found near the shore, characterized by shallow waters.

Front

What does the term 'abyssal plain' refer to?

Back

An abyssal plain is a flat, deep-sea floor area that lies at depths of 3,000 to 6,000 meters, characterized by a lack of features and a smooth surface.

Front

What is a mid-ocean ridge?

Back

A mid-ocean ridge is an underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where tectonic plates are moving apart, allowing magma to rise and create new oceanic crust.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

What is the significance of the continental slope?

Back

The continental slope is the steeply sloping area between the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor, marking the transition from shallow to deep water.

Front

What are ocean trenches?

Back

Ocean trenches are deep, narrow depressions in the ocean floor, often formed by the subduction of one tectonic plate beneath another.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

What is the role of the ocean floor in marine ecosystems?

Back

The ocean floor provides habitat for various marine organisms, influences nutrient cycling, and plays a crucial role in the overall health of marine ecosystems.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Front

How do ocean currents affect marine life zones?

Back

Ocean currents influence the distribution of nutrients, temperature, and salinity, which in turn affect the types of marine life that can thrive in different zones.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Front

What is the photic zone?

Back

The photic zone is the upper layer of the ocean where sunlight penetrates, allowing photosynthesis to occur and supporting a diverse range of marine life.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

Front

What is the benthic zone?

Back

The benthic zone refers to the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water, including the sediment surface and sub-surface layers.