1. Oceanic Zones

2. Oceanic Zones
Several factors used to divide the ocean in to distinct life marine zones
light availability
distance from shore
water depth

3. Zones of Light Availability
photic (light) zone: upper part of the ocean where light penetrates
euphotic zone is the topmost part of the ocean where light is strongest
aphotic zone: lower part of the ocean where very little or no light penetrates

5. Photic Zone
euphotic zone is where nearly all of primary production from photosynthesis occurs
highest concentration of plants
Algae, phytoplankton, and sea grass
most ocean fish live in this zone

6. Plants and Animals of Photic Zone

7. Aphotic Zone no living plants high pressure, low temperatures
animals survive by eating detritus or other animals
animals must adapt to living with no light

8. Zones: Distance from the Shore
intertidal zone: where land an ocean overlap neritic zone: seaward from the low tide line, the continental shelf out to the shelf break oceanic zone: beyond the continental shelf

10. Life in the Neritic Zone
well oxygenated water
low water pressure
stable temperature and salinity levels
home to photosynthetic life
phytoplankton
sargassum

11. Animals and Plants of the Neritic Zone

12. Oceanic Zone larger creatures life decreases with increasing depth
widest array of life (because it is a very broad area)

13. Animals of the Oceanic Zone

14. Water Depth pelagic zone: open ocean of any depth
benthic zone: includes any sea bottom surface
abyssal zone: subdivision of benthic zone;
deep
extremely high water pressure
low temperatures

16. Benthic Zone low oxygenation of water low temperatures
animals here feed on detritus or other animals
little or no plant life (depending on depth of water

17. Animals of the Benthic Zone

18. Abyssal Zone floor of deepest parts of ocean
most bizarre animals found here
incredible water pressure
absolutely no light
very cold temperatures
hard to survive

19. Animals of the Abyssal Zone