Ecosystem Connections

Continental Shelf

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Click on the links below to see connections in this ecosystem.

The continental shelf is the home to most of the ocean's animals and plants.

continental shelf underwater scene

 Great white sharks are skilled hunters. They can kill large marine mammals, such as dolphins, seals, and sea lions. They even hunt other sharks!

The common dolphin's slender jaws are filled with up to 120 sharp, pointy teeth! Its teeth help the dolphin catch and eat cod and other kinds of fish.

Bottom-dwelling fish like the ocean pout make up most of a cod’s diet. But the prey tries to hide in the mud and rocks from its predator!

What happens when an ocean pout bites off half of a starfish's body? The remaining half of the starfish grows a new half!

To avoid being eaten by a scallop, a  relies on its senses. Its ring of many tiny, blue eye-like spots of pigments can sense movement!

Scallops get their nutrients by filter-feeding. They take seawater into their shells and then sift out plankton, tiny marine animals and algae.

Puffins have been named the "parrots of the sea" because of their colorful beaks in the springtime. They use these beaks to eat pout and other fish.

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The continental shelf is the home to most of the ocean's animals and plants.

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Credits

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Credits:

Wave pattern, created by Dmitry Kovalev from the Noun Project; Luke's photo, courtesy of Luke; Illustrations, AMNH / Sean Murtha.