The Food Chain in Temperate Seas
In The Food Chain in Temperate Seas, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows the food chain from algae to salps, plankton, and krill. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Lesson Express
Q: What purpose do winter storms serve in temperate seas?
A: The turbulence stirs the water and draws nutrients up from the depths.
Q: Why are algae so important to life on Earth?
A: They produce three-fourths of all oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere; they provide food for many other living things.
Q: What steps do you think come next in the marine food chain?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention that small fish eat plankton and krill, then larger predators eat those fish.