Aquatic Ecosystem & Ocean zones

From the seashore to the deepest depths, oceans are
home to some of the most diverse life on Earth.

A Marine Food Chain

(Producer)

Several Factors are used to divide the ocean in to distinct life marine zone:

●Plants are found only in the sunlight zone where
there is enough light for photosynthesis,
however, animals are found at all depths of the
oceans.

●All life in the ocean is dependent on plants.
Algae in the ocean are an important food source
as well as an important source of atmospheric
oxygen.

●The most abundant plants in the ocean are
known as phytoplankton. (producers)

Zones of Light Availability:

Photic (light) zones: upper part
of the ocean where light and sun
penetrates.

●Euphotic zone is the
topmost part of the ocean
where light is the strongest.

●Algae, phytoplankton, and
seagrass

Aphotic zone: lower part of the ocean
where very little or no light penetrate

●No living plants, high pressure,
low temperature animals survive by
eating detritus or other animals

Zones: Distance from the shore

●Intertidal zone: where
land and ocean overlap
(Organisms in the
intertidal zone would
include
__________________
mussels, starfish, etc).

●Neritic zone: seaward
from the low tide line, the
continental shelf out to
the shelf break

●Oceanic zone: beyond the
continental shelf

Water Depth (distance from top to bottom)

Pelagic Zone: open ocean of any depth

Benthic zone: includes any sea bottom
surface

Abyssal/ Deep Zone: subdivision of
benthic zone;

●Deep

●Extremely high water pressure

●Low temperatures (Cold Water)

Hydrothermal vents are located here