Zones of the Ocean

Below 200 Feet Is Total Darkness

Photic Zone The zone where sunlight penetrates

The Photic Zone is very important as it contains the majority of the oceans plankton.

Plankton form the basis of the oceanic food chain. Plankton are microscopic plants and animals that float near the surface. Plankton include such groups as algae and diatoms.

Algae are the worlds major source of oxygen which is produced by photosynthesis.

Food Chain What is it? A food chain how energy is transferred from one organism to another.

In the oceanic food chain, plankton form the first step. They are called producers.

The second step is occupied by small fish(or other animals)which eat the plankton. The next step is occupied by medium size fish that eat the small fish, that eat the plankton and so on……..

The fish/animals that consume (eat) other plants or animals are called consumers.

Shark Tuna Squid Shrimp Plankton 10,000 pounds of plankton = 1,000 pounds of shrimp. 1,000 pounds of shrimp = 100 pounds of squid. 100 pounds of squid = 10 pounds of tuna. 10 pounds of tuna = 1 pound of shark.

Nekton Zone This zone contains the ‘swimming animals’ of the world. Some animals that live in the nekton zone move freely from one depth to another, such as whales and sharks. Nektons are able to search for food and avoid predators.

Some prefer staying near the surface where food is plentiful, while others live at great depths where sunlight never reaches.

Sunlight penetrates to a maximum depth of 200 feet. Below that depth is total darkness.

Benthos Zone Contains the plants and animals that live on or near the bottom of the ocean.

This zone consists of a large number of organisms in shallow water where sunlight penetrates allowing them access to the food chain.

The plants that live in shallow water are anchored to the bottom and use sunlight to produce food.

Some very unique animals live at great depths, Where sunlight never reaches and where pressures are enormous.