What primarily determines the types of organisms in an aquatic ecosystem?

• The ecosystem's proximity to land

• The water's salinity

• The depth of the water

• The temperature of the water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which of the following is NOT a freshwater ecosystem?

• Streams

• Oceans

• Rivers

• Lakes

What are plankton?

• Large aquatic mammals

• Microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in the water

• Organisms that swim actively in open water

• Bottom-dwelling organisms

What zone in a freshwater habitat is characterized by shallow water where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants?

• Benthic zone

• Littoral zone

• Abyssal zone

• Pelagic zone

What is eutrophication?

• The cooling of lake temperatures

• The increase in the amount of nutrients in an aquatic ecosystem

• The decrease of aquatic life

• The process of water evaporation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

Which of the following is a characteristic of swamps?

• Are primarily found in desert regions

• Dominated by woody plants

• Contain mostly open water

• Dominated by nonwoody plants

What important environmental function do wetlands serve?

• They serve as the main habitat for marine life

• They are the largest source of saltwater ecosystems

• They are primary sources of drinking water

• They act as natural water filters

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

What adaptation do water beetles have for survival?

• They can fly long distances

• They have webbed feet for swimming

• They use hairs under their bodies to trap surface air

• They can change color to blend with their environment

What causes accelerated eutrophication?

• Runoff carrying pollutants into bodies of water

• Natural aging of lakes

• The introduction of non-native species

• Decreased water temperatures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-5

What is the role of decomposers in aquatic ecosystems?

• They break down dead and decaying organisms

• They swim actively in open water

• They filter pollutants from the water

• They capture solar energy to make food

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3