Salty, Brackish, Or Fresh—Saltiness Matters for Aquatic Species!

Abstract

Did you ever eat too much salty popcorn? What happened afterwards? You probably became really thirsty. There was so much salt in the popcorn that the saltiness in your body got out of balance. The same way your popcorn can be too salty or just right, the saltiness in our oceans and coastal seas can be right or wrong for the marine life. You can tell the difference between salty ocean water and fresh lake water from their different tastes and smells, and from the fact that you can float easier in the ocean. However, the effects of saltiness are much more important for animals, plants, algae, and other organisms that live in the water—for them, saltiness is a matter of life and death.