Marine Ecosystems are a part of the largest aquatic system on the planet, covering over 70% of the Earth's surface. The habitats that make up this vast system range from the artic sea ice to the tropical coral reefs and all those found between. Marine: Salt Water: Oceanic

Coral Reefs At first glance, you may think that coral reefs are made up of rocks, but they are actually live organisms. These organisms are tiny little animals called polyps. Polyps live on the outside of the reef. As polyps die, they become hard and new polyps grow on top of them causing the reef to grow Coral reefs need warm, shallow water to form. They form close to the equator near coastlines and around islands throughout the world. The Coral Reef may look small, but it is home to 25% of known marine species

Coral Reefs Jonathon Bird's Blue World Coral Reef

Kelp Forests The Kelp Forests are very different from the other habitats. The kelp forest is a forest, but it is not a forest of trees. It is made of seaweed called giant kelp. Giant kelp grows in cool coastal waters where sunlight can go down to a rocky sea floor. These forests can be found off the west coast. Kelp needs sunlight in order to grow. It also needs a hard surface to grow on. Giant kelp is one of the world's fastest growing plants. It can grow as much as 300 feet in a single year. When the tops reach the surface, they keep on growing to form a floating mat. The kelp forest provides shelter and protection for many animals. Like a forest on land, a kelp forest is full of life.

Kelp Forests Jonathon Bird's Blue World Kelp Forest

Mangrove Forests Mangrove forests are particularly found in tropical regions within 30 degrees latitude of the equator. Mangroves can be found in Africa, Australia, Asia and America Mangrove forests provide protection and shelter against extreme weather events, such as storm winds and floods. Mangrove forests provide a habitat for wide varieties of animal and plant species. They are rich in food. Live and decaying mangrove leaves and roots provide nutrients that nourish plankton, algae, fish and shellfish. Mangroves are also home to many birds and mammals

Mangrove Forests Jonathon Bird's Blue World Mangrove Forests

Artic The Arctic is all of the area north of the Arctic Circle (an imaginary circle around planet Earth, everything above about 76 degrees North). Despite the cold, harsh climate, the Arctic is an ecosystem that teems with life, where many species have adapted successfully to the Arctic seas and ice edge, including organisms living in the ice – fish (cod,shark), marine mammals such as walrus and seals, whales, dolphins, birds (Arctic tern, gull,) and land animals such as wolves, caribou and polar bear. You will also find several kinds of invertebrates including phytoplankton, krill, crustaceans, mussels and snails

Artic National Geographic Exploring the Arctic

Deep Sea Trenches Ocean trenches are the deepest parts of the ocean. They are also called submarine valleys. An ocean trench is a long, deep depression in the ocean floor, similar to deep chasms on the Earth’s dry land. It's hard to imagine a more forbidding place than the icy cold, pitch black, crushing environment of the deep ocean. It’s even harder to imagine anything living there. But researchers are discovering that thousands of fascinating animals—including fishes, corals, crustaceans, jellyfishes, and worms—have adapted to life in this challenging environment.

Deep Sea Trenches The Deep Sea