Marine regions
The marine Biome consists of 5 major oceans which are the, Indian Ocean, Atlantic
Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Southern or Antarctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The
largest water body is the ocean and it is divided into three layers.
Oceans The largest water body is the ocean and it is divided into three layers. The first layer is known as euphotic layer. This is a shallow layer and light is able to reach it. The plants and animals of this region include fish and marine mammals, plankton and some floating seaweed. The second layer consists of disphotic zone, through which light equal to the intensity of twilight is able to reach the bottom. The plants and animals layer include starfish, anemones, sponges, amongst others, as well as various micro-organisms and few plant species. The last layer is the apotic zone. This is the deepest part of the ocean and no light ever reaches its bottom. The flora and fauna of this layer include invertebrates and fish including such oddities as the coelacanth and fish that can glow in the dark. Coral refs An interesting marine biome fact on coral reefs is that they are the only animals that can build structures visible from space. The 2000 mile long Great Barrier Reef of Australia made by millions of small coral polyps is another interesting marine biome fact. The coral reefs are found in warm shallow waters around the world. They are found in fringing islands, atolls along many continents, etc. The corals are made of algae and tissues of animal polyps. The corals obtain nutrients to survive through photosynthesis process carried out by algae and extending their tentacles to capture plankton in water. The other marine animals and plants of the coral reef include microorganisms, invertebrates, fishes, sea urchins, star fishes, octopuses, etc. Estuaries A partially confined water body along coastal lines, where one or more rivers meet the sea, is called an estuary. This water body serves as a passage between the river ecosystem and the ocean ecosystem, mixing freshwater and saltwater. Estuarine environments are characterized by a rich biodiversity, owing to the high levels of nutrients present in both freshwater and seawater. This makes an estuary one of the most organic and productive water bodies in the world. A variety of fish such as salmon and trout, along with phytoplankton's (mainly diatoms and din flagellates), dominate its biodiversity thus boosting the fish nurseries' habitats. |