Ecosystems
"Since we're terrestrial animals, we often think of the ocean as homogenous. But in fact there is a rich variety of complex and different ecosystems within the ocean."
- Dr. Melanie L. J. Stiassny, Curator of the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life
The resources below explore what lives in different parts of the ocean, from coral reefs to deep sea vents.
Article
Let's Talk With Melanie Stiassny About the Oceans
Living on land as we do, it's easy to forget this is a water planet. Yet life appeared about 3.5 billion years ago in the ocean, and instead of leaving, most things stayed there.
Activity
Dive Into Worlds Within the Sea
Which squirmy little creatures does the spiny lobster eat? Can you spot the weird greenish glow on the belly of the cookie-cutter shark? Show off your good thinking with a game of good linking.
Article
Work the System!
Did you know that forests with leaves above the water can grow in the ocean? Grab the magical magnifying glass, and see how many different plants and animals you can find in this virtual mangrove swamp.
Activity
Create a Coral Reef
Did you know that, at their core, coral reefs are the skeletons of thousands of dead coral? Make your own coral reef diorama—with pasta, Play-Doh™, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and hair curlers.
Article
Cindy Lee Van Dover
For oceanographers, the work they do at sea is just the beginning. Learn more about the discoveries made by one scientist who completed more than 100 dives to the sea floor.
Article
A Day at the (Barrier) Beach: My Expedition to Sandy Hook
Which has more oxygen: ocean water that has been aerated by turbulence, or bay water that has been fed by oxygen-producing plants? This ninth-grader from New Jersey learns that getting the answer is not all that easy!
Article
How Do Humans and Plants Interact in Tidal Wetlands?
How is cordgrass able to survive the high salinity of a marsh when other plants can't? An amazing adaptation that lets it secrete excess salt, as this ninth-grader from Virginia discovered.
Article
Tide Pools and the Life Within Them
Wade through the tide pools of Doheny State Beach with this seventh-grader from California, and discover the many animals that thrive in this ever-changing world of sand and surf.
Article
Antarctic Adaptations
Unlike human visitors, Antarctica's plants and animals don't require high-tech gear. How have these organisms adapted to thrive—not just survive—in such an extreme environment?
