1. How inappropriate to call this planet “Earth” when it is clearly “Ocean”—
Arthur C. Clarke

2. Pelagic Zones
Neritic & Open Ocean

3. Pelagic
If you are swimming in the ocean and can’t touch the bottom, you are in the PELAGIC part of the ocean.
Pelagic =
Oceanic, Aquatic, Marine

4. Neritic Zone
Open Ocean Zone

5. The Neritic Zone PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
How deep is it?
The average depth is about 200 meters---this is considered shallow in the ocean.
The neritic zone is the water above the continental shelf. How big is the shelf?
The average size of the continental shelf is about 65 km (40 miles). This is about the distance from Helena to Tuscaloosa or to Clanton.

6. The Neritic Zone COOL SIZE FACTS
Like the depth of the water in all oceans, the continental shelf size around each continent varies.
Some parts of the coast of California have a contiental shelf that is less than 1 km.
In northern Siberia,
the continental shelf is nearly
1,290 km (800 miles!)

7. The Neritic Zone PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Neritic Zone has more animals and plants
than any other part of the ocean. Why?
Sunlight shines through the whole zone
Nutrients from land & upwelling
Sunlight (photosynthesis)+ Nutrients =
FOOD
Most commercial fishing and deep sea fishing take place in the Neritic Zone.

8. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS
What is a coral?
Very tiny animals similar to a sea anemone--about the size of a pencil eraser
Build hard shells that remain after they die
What is a coral reef?
Living coral attach to the shells left by dead coral
After many years, a coral reef will form
Where are they found?
Shallow, tropical oceans near the equator

9. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

10. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

11. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

12. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—COOL FACTS
1. A special microscopic algae lives inside them.
provides nutrition when food is scarce
helps to make corals brightly colored
2. Corals are carnivorous.

13. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—COOL FACTS
Not all of them are the size of an eraser.
Some are large enough to eat a jellyfish!

14. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS---FORMATION
Step #1---FRINGE REEF
Coral builds up around a volcanic island.

15. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS---FORMATION
Step #2---BARRIER REEF
Volcanic island starts to sink
Lagoon forms between island and reef

16. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS---FORMATION
Step #3---ATOLL
Volcanic island sinks completely under water
A ring shaped reef remains

17. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—Facts
Australia’s GREAT BARRIER REEF
world’s largest reef system—1,616 miles
began forming nearly 500, 000 years ago!

18. The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—U.S. History
BIKINI ATOLL in the Pacific Ocean
Used for testing nuclear bombs during the Cold War, also known as the Red Scare

19. The Neritic Zone Habitats KELP FORESTS
What is kelp?
A form of algae in the Neritic Zone
Requires cold water and a rocky ocean floor
What does it look like?
Large—kelp stalks can reach a length of 30 meters!
Has roots called holdfasts that attach to rocks
Has airbladders to help it “stand up” in the water

20. The Neritic Zone Habitats KELP FORESTS
3. Why is the kelp forest important?
It is a safe home and provides food to many animals.
4. Why are sea otters so important to the kelp forest?
Sea otters eat sea urchins and keep them from destroying the habitat.