Freshwater, Saltwater, and Brackish Water Habitats Worksheet

Question 1

A lake has water that is not salty. Is the lake a freshwater habitat, a saltwater habitat, or a brackish water habitat?

Accepted Answer

A lake is usually a freshwater habitat because its water is not salty.

Question 2

The ocean has water with a lot of salt in it. What kind of habitat is the ocean?

Accepted Answer

The ocean is a saltwater habitat because it has a lot of salt in the water.

Question 3

Brackish water is a mix of freshwater and saltwater. Where might you find brackish water?

Accepted Answer

You might find brackish water where a river meets the ocean, such as in an estuary.

Question 4

Circle the habitat that best matches each animal: frog: freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water.

Accepted Answer

A frog best matches a freshwater habitat because many frogs live in ponds, lakes, and streams.

Question 5

Circle the habitat that best matches each animal: shark: freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water.

Accepted Answer

A shark best matches a saltwater habitat because most sharks live in oceans.

Question 6

A river flows into the sea. The water near the mouth of the river is partly salty and partly fresh. What kind of water is this?

Accepted Answer

This is brackish water because freshwater from the river mixes with saltwater from the sea.

Question 7

Name one freshwater habitat and one saltwater habitat.

Accepted Answer

One freshwater habitat is a pond, lake, river, or stream. One saltwater habitat is an ocean or sea.

Question 8

A plant grows in a marsh where river water and ocean water mix. Is this plant living in freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water?

Accepted Answer

The plant is living in brackish water because the marsh has a mix of river water and ocean water.

Question 9

Why would a goldfish not be a good pet to place in an ocean tide pool?

Accepted Answer

A goldfish would not be a good pet to place in an ocean tide pool because goldfish need freshwater, and an ocean tide pool has saltwater.

Question 10

Sort these places into freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water: pond, ocean, estuary.

Accepted Answer

A pond is freshwater. An ocean is saltwater. An estuary is brackish water.

Question 11

Look at a habitat with cattails, lily pads, ducks, and frogs. What type of water habitat is it most likely to be?

Accepted Answer

It is most likely a freshwater habitat because cattails, lily pads, ducks, and frogs often live in ponds or lakes.

Question 12

Some fish can live in brackish water because they can handle changes in salt. Why is that helpful in an estuary?

Accepted Answer

It is helpful because the amount of salt in an estuary can change when tides move in and out or when rain adds freshwater.

Question 13

Complete the sentence: Water with very little salt is called blank water.

Accepted Answer

Water with very little salt is called freshwater.

Freshwater, Saltwater, and Brackish Water Habitats