Freshwater, Saltwater, and Brackish Water Habitats
Exploring where water plants and animals live
Freshwater, Saltwater, and Brackish Water Habitats
Exploring where water plants and animals live
Science - Grade 2-3
- 1
A lake has water that is not salty. Is the lake a freshwater habitat, a saltwater habitat, or a brackish water habitat?
Freshwater has very little salt.
A lake is usually a freshwater habitat because its water is not salty. - 2
The ocean has water with a lot of salt in it. What kind of habitat is the ocean?
The ocean is a saltwater habitat because it has a lot of salt in the water. - 3
Brackish water is a mix of freshwater and saltwater. Where might you find brackish water?
Think about a place where two kinds of water come together.
You might find brackish water where a river meets the ocean, such as in an estuary. - 4
Circle the habitat that best matches each animal: frog: freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water.
Frogs often live near ponds and streams.
A frog best matches a freshwater habitat because many frogs live in ponds, lakes, and streams. - 5
Circle the habitat that best matches each animal: shark: freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water.
A shark best matches a saltwater habitat because most sharks live in oceans. - 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?
Brackish water is a mixture.
This is brackish water because freshwater from the river mixes with saltwater from the sea. - 7
Name one freshwater habitat and one saltwater habitat.
One freshwater habitat is a pond, lake, river, or stream. One saltwater habitat is an ocean or sea. - 8
A plant grows in a marsh where river water and ocean water mix. Is this plant living in freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water?
Look for the clue that two kinds of water mix.
The plant is living in brackish water because the marsh has a mix of river water and ocean water. - 9
Why would a goldfish not be a good pet to place in an ocean tide pool?
Goldfish usually live in freshwater aquariums or ponds.
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. - 10
Sort these places into freshwater, saltwater, or brackish water: pond, ocean, estuary.
A pond is freshwater. An ocean is saltwater. An estuary is brackish water. - 11
Look at a habitat with cattails, lily pads, ducks, and frogs. What type of water habitat is it most likely to be?
Lily pads and frogs are common in ponds.
It is most likely a freshwater habitat because cattails, lily pads, ducks, and frogs often live in ponds or lakes. - 12
Some fish can live in brackish water because they can handle changes in salt. Why is that helpful in an estuary?
It is helpful because the amount of salt in an estuary can change when tides move in and out or when rain adds freshwater. - 13
Complete the sentence: Water with very little salt is called blank water.
This is the kind of water found in many rivers and lakes.
Water with very little salt is called freshwater.