Ocean ZonesOcean Zones

Learning GoalLearning Goal

Describe the composition Describe the composition and interactions between and interactions between the structure of the Earth the structure of the Earth and its atmosphere.and its atmosphere.

Overview of the Ocean Life ZonesOverview of the Ocean Life Zones

Horizontal ZonesHorizontal Zones

Littoral ZoneLittoral Zone Neritic ZoneNeritic Zone Oceanic or Oceanic or

PELAGIC ZonePELAGIC Zone

Vertical ZonesVertical Zones

Sunlit ZoneSunlit Zone Twilight ZoneTwilight Zone Bathyal ZoneBathyal Zone Abyssal ZoneAbyssal Zone

Horizontal life zonesHorizontal life zones

Littoral ZoneLittoral Zone – The shallow water – The shallow water area between high and low tides.area between high and low tides.

Neritic ZoneNeritic Zone – The area of the – The area of the continental margin between the low continental margin between the low tide line and the edge of the tide line and the edge of the continental shelf.continental shelf.

Oceanic ZoneOceanic Zone – The deep ocean – The deep ocean beyond the continental margin.beyond the continental margin.

Horizontal Zones DiagramHorizontal Zones Diagram

Vertical ZonesVertical Zones

Sunlit Zone – (epipelagic) Extends from the Sunlit Zone – (epipelagic) Extends from the surface of the ocean to a depth of 200 surface of the ocean to a depth of 200 meters.meters.

Twilight Zone – (mesopelagic) the area of Twilight Zone – (mesopelagic) the area of the ocean between 200 meters and 1,000 the ocean between 200 meters and 1,000 meters.meters.

Bathyal Zone – (bathypelagic) extends from Bathyal Zone – (bathypelagic) extends from 1,000 meters to 4,000 meters.1,000 meters to 4,000 meters.

Abyssal Zone – (abyssalpelagic) the area of Abyssal Zone – (abyssalpelagic) the area of the ocean that is deeper than 4,000 meters.the ocean that is deeper than 4,000 meters.

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Vertical Zones, Life and LightVertical Zones, Life and Light

Sunlight is the energy basis for Sunlight is the energy basis for nearly all marine ecosystems and is nearly all marine ecosystems and is therefore critical for life.therefore critical for life.

The Sunlit Zone receives large The Sunlit Zone receives large amounts of sunlight. As a result amounts of sunlight. As a result many of the oceans organisms thrive many of the oceans organisms thrive here. This is the area most of our here. This is the area most of our seafood comes from.seafood comes from.

Vertical Zones, Life and LightVertical Zones, Life and Light

Twilight Zone – an area of the ocean Twilight Zone – an area of the ocean that receives some light but is darker that receives some light but is darker than the sunlit zone. Some fish and than the sunlit zone. Some fish and other organisms live here.other organisms live here.

Bathyal and Abyssal Zones are in Bathyal and Abyssal Zones are in complete darkness. Life forms in complete darkness. Life forms in these zones contain tube worms, these zones contain tube worms, lantern fish, angler fish, as well as lantern fish, angler fish, as well as other forms of life.other forms of life.

Types of Oceanic lifeTypes of Oceanic life

Plankton – float near the ocean surface. Plankton – float near the ocean surface. There are two types: phytoplankton, There are two types: phytoplankton, plantlike and zooplankton, animal like. plantlike and zooplankton, animal like. Plankton are moved at the mercy of Plankton are moved at the mercy of ocean currentsocean currents

Benthos – Organisms that live on the Benthos – Organisms that live on the ocean floor.ocean floor.

Nekton – Organisms that can swim.Nekton – Organisms that can swim.

Oceans are AWESOME!!Oceans are AWESOME!!

Let’s take a lookLet’s take a look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i6JoeyIvc0