Aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems are different in a few important ways:
Water Coverage: Aquatic ecosystems make up about 75% of Earth’s surface. In comparison, terrestrial ecosystems, which are land-based, only cover about 29%.
Biodiversity: There are more than 230,000 known marine species living in water, while there are about 170,000 species found on land.
Oxygen Sources: Aquatic ecosystems depend mostly on tiny plants and organisms like phytoplankton to produce oxygen. These little creatures create about 50% of the world’s oxygen!
Temperature Regulation: Water is great at keeping temperatures steady. It can hold heat better than air, which helps to keep the environment more stable.
These differences lead to special adaptations and interactions in each ecosystem.
Aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems are different in a few important ways:
Water Coverage: Aquatic ecosystems make up about 75% of Earth’s surface. In comparison, terrestrial ecosystems, which are land-based, only cover about 29%.
Biodiversity: There are more than 230,000 known marine species living in water, while there are about 170,000 species found on land.
Oxygen Sources: Aquatic ecosystems depend mostly on tiny plants and organisms like phytoplankton to produce oxygen. These little creatures create about 50% of the world’s oxygen!
Temperature Regulation: Water is great at keeping temperatures steady. It can hold heat better than air, which helps to keep the environment more stable.
These differences lead to special adaptations and interactions in each ecosystem.