RI 2 Assessment

The box becomes part of the ecosystem there

Over time, lots of anemones grow on the box.

A barnacle may attach to the side.

Then an anemone attaches there too.

A curious octopus comes to hunt shellfish.

Barnacles live on a whale’s skin. Barnacles are able to eat plankton when the whales eat. The barnacles do not harm or help the whale.

Vultures eat dead animals. They are able to eat meat that is rotten and would be dangerous to other animals.

Oxpeckers are birds that live on elephants. The oxpecker eats lice, ticks, and other parasites that live on the elephant. They also scream when they see predators, which helps the elephant stay alive.

New ecosystems form on the oil rigs and platforms in the ocean. Coral grow on the steel platforms, which feed fish. Turtles and sharks live off of the fish.

An ecosystem can be huge, like a desert or the ocean. But it can also be as small as a puddle.

All living things are connected to each other in an ecosystem. In a way, the oak tree helps the hawk find its food.

Reefs also draw birds, whales, turtles, and seals. This makes the reef ecosystem one of the most important in the world.

The box becomes part of the ecosystem there. Crabs climb into it. A barnacle may attach to the side.