Oceans

Ocean Zones The Pelagic zone refers to the open water in which swimming and floating organisms live. Organisms living there are called the pelagos. Biologists subdivide the pelagic zone into the epipelagic (which is less than 200 meters deep, where organisms are able to photosynthesize), mesopelagic (200-1,000 meters in depth, the "twilight" zone with that has faint sunlight but not enough for photosynthesis), bathypelagic (1,000-4,000 meters), abyssopelagic (4,000- 6,000 meters), and the deepest zone, the hadopelagic (the deep trenches below 6,000 meters to about 11,000 meters in depth. Sunlight is incapable of reaching the last 3 zones. Benthic zones are defined as the bottom sediments and other surfaces of a body of water. Organisms living in this zone are called benthos. Like the Pelagic Zone, the Benthic zone is subdivided based on depth. The intertidal (where sea meets land), the subtidal (the continental shelves-approx. 200 m), the bathyal (generally the continental slopes-4,000 m), the abyssal (most of the deep ocean seafloor, 4,000-6,000 m), and the hadal (the deep trenches 6,000- 11,000 m). *Just remember: Pelagic→ Open Water / Benthic→ Floor and Surfaces*

Diagram of the oceanic zones

Botany Kelp: Kelp grows in cold coastal waters. It is the largest marine plant in the world and can reach up to 250 feet. Kelp is also the fastest-growing plant in the world and is typically brown. It lives on the surface of the ocean, but stays afloat with the help of small flotation bulbs that support it. Seaweed: Seaweed is a form of microscopic algae called phytoplankton that floats on the surface of the ocean, similar to kelp. Seaweed has been harvested by humans for thousands of years as food, material for housing, rope and baskets. It is even used as medication. A surplus of seaweed can choke out coral reefs, but fish that eat seaweed help mitigate this problem.

Botany Seagrass: Seagrass grows in shallow water because it needs a lot of sunlight. These plants have roots and live on the ocean floor. Some types of seagrasses are turtle grass, manatee grass and shoal grass.Seagrasses provide habitat for small fish and other young marine life such as lobsters. These animals are able to hide from predators in the grasses. Red Algae: Red Algae grows in warm tropical water and has been growing in oceans for more than 500 million years. According to the University of California-Berkeley, red algae is red, because of the presence of the pigment phycoerythrin. This pigment reflects red light and absorbs blue light.The blue light penetrates water to a greater depth than light of longer wavelengths and these pigments allow red algae to photosynthesize. Red algae is harvested as food also. It contains high protein and many vitamins.

Botany Coralline Algae: Coralline Algae consists of fine filaments that grow over rocks. These plants may seem more like rocks than plants because they are as hard as cement. Coralline algae helps support the structure of coral reefs. Coral: Coral is not a plant, but is an animal organism. However, coral reefs get their color from the many species of algae that live on the surface of the coral. Algae attaches itself to the coral and feeds the coral, which eats the nutrients created as byproducts of the algae's photosynthesis. Coral is also a carnivore because it has barbed tentacles that it can use to capture small fish. Though coral is an animal, it relies on a symbiotic relationship with algae to keep it alive.

Zoology The type of marine life being observed depends on the zone in which they are found. Some estimates report the world’s oceans are home to 20,000 species of fish. Ocean fishes come in all shapes, sizes, colors and live in drastically different depths and temperatures. Oceans are home to a diverse assortment of corals, starfish, jellyfish, sea slugs, kelp and more. Corals are living creatures that often live in compact colonies and build up coral reefs, the biggest of which is the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Cephalopods, crustaceans and other shellfish play important roles in maintaining healthy ocean systems. Dolphins, whales, sea otters and other marine mammals adhere to complex social systems and exhibit remarkable intelligence. Seabirds come in all shapes and sizes (some can’t even fly) and play a vital role in ocean ecosystems. Sharks have played a vital role in maintaining healthy oceans for hundreds of millions of years as a top predator. More than 450 species of sharks cruise the world’s oceans, ranging in size from 8 inches to a whopping 40 feet long.

Weather and Climate The climate of the ocean biome is varied. Since it is the largest biome in the world the climate varies from -40 degrees fahrenheit to over 100 degrees fahrenheit. The average temperature is 39 degrees fahrenheit but it gets warmer towards the equator.

Best Time to Travel If you want to travel near the Atlantic Ocean I would suggest going to Miami, Florida in May if you like warmer dry weather, if you like hot sunny weather with occasional tropical showers you should go in June.

What to Wear You should bring clothes suitable for warm weather and bathing suits to swim in the pool and ocean.

Top 10 Beach Cities Barcelona, Spain Cape Town, South Africa Honolulu, Hawaii Nice, France Miami Beach, Florida Rio De Janeiro, Brazil Santa Monica, California Sydney, Australia Tel Aviv, Israel Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Activities There are many different activities that you can do while you are in the ocean. For example: Snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, kayaking, and boating. If you don’t want to go in the ocean than you can always hang out on the sunny beaches and get a tan, or build a sand castle.