Marine Communities

Throughout an ecosystem, organisms produce, transfer energy, and live in relationships with one another. Ecologists use a special set of terms to describe the ways in which organisms interact with their environment. In this topic, you will learn the language of ecology and examine each of the different marine communities. You will also learn how communities change over time.

Essential Questions

• What is an ecosystem?
• What is a community?
• What is a habitat?
• What is a niche?
• How does the  growth rate and carrying capacity affect an ecosystem?
• What is species diversity?
• How does a community change?
• What are the different types of communities (Intertidal, Beach, Salt Marsh, Estuary, Mangrove, Open Ocean, Abyssal, Vent, Kelp, Coral Reef, Arctic, and Antarctic)?