The (un)Dead Sea
On Earth there are a variety plenty of ecosystems; ecosystems like the Agroecosystem, Aquatic ecosystem, Chaparrao, Coral reef, Desert, Forest, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. One very important ecosystem is the Dead Sea. Many people think that because of its title there are no organisms living in this vast body of water but that is 100% incorrect. The Dead Sea has many organisms, but not the usual organisms you find in other oceans. There are bacteria! Hundreds of them to be more precise. Extremeophiles that thrive in the large amounts of salinity present in the water. -Liz "BabyCakes"
Life in the Dead Sea
Not until recently, scientists have thought that the Dead Sea couldn’t hold any life at all because of its extremely high salinity levels and high temperatures however, this extreme environment is home to only organisms with a very high tolerance level, mainly, bacteria, algea, and other fauna are the only things able to survive there. The micro-organisms that make the Dead Sea their home are mainly from the domain Achaea, taking up around 1,000 to 10,000 per ml. These organisms are referred to as extremophiles, the most primitive organisms on earth, they don’t evolve as quickly because there environment doesn’t change as quickly as others do. Being millions of years old, these micro-organisms are our oldest ancestors on earth.
-Leandra "Squishy" Gonzalez
There are not a lot of organisms in the Dead Sea because, it has so much salt. The Salinity is so harsh it can prevent macroscopic aquatic organisms from living. Some creatures can survive, some can’t and they will die. They’re one of the only organisms that can live in the Dead Sea, bacteria especially the saltiest part of the sea. In the Dead Sea in a couple of years they‘ll find a new organism and in bacteria mostly but with something unique in them.
-Denise XD