It Could Use a Little Salt...

Energy. We need it from the moment we’re two cells old until the day we take our last breath. Every living organism needs energy to live, grow and reproduce, but not all organisms get their energy in the same way or from the same sources.

All organisms are connected to one another directly or indirectly because of their dependence on their environment or one another as sources of energy. If something is living, or was living at one point, you can be sure it’s connected to other living things as either a diner or a dinner.

Scientists try to understand how energy moves between different organisms, as well as between organisms and their environment. These relationships are often depicted as food webs, which are diagrams that indicate how and where organisms in an ecosystem are connected by their need for energy.

Traditionally, people learn about food webs using examples of terrestrial (land-based) organisms. Here, we invite you to explore food webs and how energy moves between organisms using the marine environment. Why the marine environment, you ask? Well, here are a few good reasons:

  • Over 70% of our planet is covered by one connected ocean
  • There is more life, and a greater diversity of life, in the ocean than on land
  • Our weather and climate are greatly influenced by the ocean
  • People rely on the ocean for food, energy, medicines, transportation and recreation
  • At least one-half of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean (source: NASA)
  • Much of the ocean is still unexplored
  • The ocean and the organisms that live in it are cool!

And, after all, don’t most things taste better with a little salt? … now let’s get wet. Click on the Units below to begin.