Blue Planet - Open Ocean
The open ocean is often referred to as a "marine desert." This may seem contradictory to students, who perceive a desert as a hot, dry, sandy ecosystem. However, the biodiversity in the open ocean, away from the flow of nutrients from the coasts, is the lowest for all aquatic ecosystems.
Key Concepts: Open ocean, aquatic ecosystems, euphotic zone, adaptations, migration, limiting factor.
Answer Key: Available for purchase at the environmental science instructor resources subscription page.
