Life Away From Shore Ocean life differs farther away from shore.

Conditions in the Neritic Zone  The shallow water over the continental shelf receives sunlight and a steady supply of nutrients washed from the land into the ocean.  The light and nutrients enable large plantlike algae to grow.

Life in the Neritic Zone  More organisms live here than in any other ocean zone.  B/C of the supply of nutrients.  Nutrients are washed off of land and supplied by upwelling currents.

Coral Reef  Coral reefs are created by colonies of tiny coral animals.  Coral reefs only form shallow, tropical ocean waters.  Atoll: a ringed shaped reef surrounding a lagoon.  Coral reef animals include: octopuses, lobsters, shrimp, and fish… including Nemo!

Kelp Forests  Kelp: large heavy algae that grow in parts of the neritic zone.  Kelp forests grow in cold neritic waters where the ocean has a rocky floor.  Kelp use sunlight and dissolved gases in the neritic zone to produce their own food.  B/C of their size, kelp require the rocky bottom of the ocean floor to anchor to and air bladders to keep them upright in the water.  Kelp forest animals: young whales, sea otters, and sea urchins.

Conditions in the Open Ocean  Open ocean begins at the edge of the continental shelf.  Only a small part of the open ocean receives sunlight.  Dissolved nutrients are less abundant in the open ocean.

Divisions of the Open Ocean  Surface Zone: only part of the open ocean that receives enough sunlight to support the growth of algae.  Transition Zone: colder and darker than surface zone.  Deep Zone: few organisms live here b/c of cold, dark conditions.  Bioluminescence: ability of living things to produce their own light.  Limited food supply causes special adaptations.

Hydrothermal Vents  Hydrothermal Vent: area where HOT ocean water rises out of cracks in the ocean floor.  Only deep zone environment that supports a variety of ocean life.  Bacteria at the vents use chemo synthesis to produce their own food. (Producers of the vents.)  Organisms include: giant clams, tube worms, and crabs.

Hydrothermal Vent