OCEAN ZONES Chapter 13 Section 2 Ocean Zones Chapter 13 Section 3

Benthic Environment- on the bottom from shore to deep ocean Intertidal Zone- where the ocean meets the land Sublittoral Zone- covers the continental shelf Bathyl Zone- zone that covers the continental slope Abyssal Zone- largest zone,2000-6000 meters deep Hadal Zone- 6000 meters to the deepest ocean trench

Intertidal zone Shoreline, in the tide Animals adapted to water and dry land Receives the most sunlight Clams, mussels, starfish, crabs, shrimp, anemones, sponges

Sublittoral Zone Covers the continental shelf Sunlight, pressure and temperature constant Coral

Bathyl Zone Edge of continental shelf, along slope, to abyssal plain 200 to 4000 meters Little sunlight Sponges, octopus, sea stars

Abyssal Zone No plants and very few animals Largest ecological zone Can reach 4000 meters Crabs, sponges, worms and sea cucumbers, anglerfish Many animals live around hot water vents called black smokers

Black Smokers

Hadal Zone Deepest zone 6000-7000 meters deep Sponge, clam and worms Fewest amount of animals

The Pelagic Environment- water in the ocean Neritic zone-water that covers the continental shelf Oceanic zone-rest of water in the ocean

Neritic Zone Warm,shallow Much sunlight Most marine organisms, plants and animals Fish, plankton, mammals Whales, dolphins

Oceanic Zone Covers the ocean floor beyond the continental shelf Deep regions very cold, no sunlight Fewer organisms Pressure greater

3 Groups of Marine Life Plankton Nekton Benthos

Plankton Plankton are tiny open-water plants, animals or bacteria. These organisms range in size from microscopic bacteria and plants to larger animals, such as jellyfish. Plankton generally have limited or no swimming ability and are transported through the water by currents and tides. Plankton communities serve as a base for the food chain.

Nekton Animals that swim or move freely in the ocean are nekton. Nekton come in all shapes and sizes. They live in shallow and deep ocean waters. Most nekton eat zooplankton, other nektons or they scavenge for waste

Benthos The benthos live on the ocean floor. Starfish, oysters, clams, sea cucumbers, brittlestars and anemone are all benthos. Most benthos feed on food as it floats by or scavenge for food on the ocean floor.