Types of Marine Ecosystem

Types of Marine Ecosystems
Saltwater Ecosystem
A marine ecosystem is also called saltwater ecosystem because of its large salt content. Almost 71 percent of the earth’s
waters are made up of saltwater. These waters are home to different plants and animals.
Two types of Marine Ecosystem:
1. The Ocean Ecosystem

2. Nearshore Region
S
The Ocean Ecosystem

The ocean is divided into three major zones where organisms are able to live.
Open Ocean Zone
Twilight Zone
Ocean Floor
Major Zone of the Ocean
Ocean Floor
The deepest part of the ocean is more familiar known as ocean floor. Although sunlight no longer penetrates to this zone
and the temperature is just above freezing, about 200,000 species of animals and plants are still able to survive here.
Most of these animals here are decomposers. They depend on organic matter from upper zone. These are common
creatures that live on the ocean floor: giant crabs, giant tube worms, six-gill sharks, and wolffishes.
Twilight Zone
About 915 meters above the ocean floor is the twilight zone. The temperature in this zone ranges from 3°C to 5°C. Only
very faint sunlight penetrates into this depth, making the waters seem deep dark blue or almost black in color.
Photosynthesis cannot take place in this zone due to lack of sunlight. Most of the animals that lives in this zone have
large teeth and jaws and large eyes to help them see in the dark. Among these animals are shrimps, crabs, eels,
octopuses, squids, and jellyfish.
Open-Ocean Zone
The open-ocean zone contains about 65 percent of the ocean water and extends to the next zone by about 4000 meters
in depth. Adequate amount of sunlight that reach this zone make it possible for photosynthesis to take place. Variety of
plant life that includes algae, plankton, and sea grasses. These plants in turn support animal life that includes most fish
species, sea turtles, corals, and seals.
The Intertidal Zone
The intertidal zone is the part of the ocean between the tide marks of the low tide and high tide on the land and usually
extends to the edge of the continental shelf. The continental shelf is the shallow area of the ocean that is less than 200
meters in depth. It is the area where pounding waves occur. The organism that lives in this zone are brittle stars, crabs,
mussels, and barnacles. People utilize this area as a source of food and a site for shelter and recreational activities.
Predation
Predation is the interaction when an organism hunts and/or feeds on another organisms for nutrients. For instances, the
primary food source of a sea star is the mussel.
Competition
Competition is the interaction that occurs when two or more organisms need the same limited resource and fight for it.
An example of this is competition for space. It is found mostly in rocky areas, where space is limited compared to the
ocean floor.
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is the relationship in which two organisms live closely together and at least one benefits in the relationship.
Mutualism and commensalism are types of symbiosis. Mutualism is the symbiotic relationship where two species
depend on each other. Commensalism is the symbiotic relationship where one benefits while the other is neither helped
nor harmed.
The Nearshore Regions
The nearshore region is an area where the body of water is a mixture of freshwater and saltwater. This region supports
mostly small marine life. It serves as the nursing place for marine organisms during the organisms’ developmental stage
because it provides newly hatched marine organism with food and protection from strong waves and bigger animals that
could eat them.
Estuaries are where the rivers meet the sea. They are protected from the force waves and wind because the are mostly
surrounded by land that serves as a barrier from the strong forces.
A mangrove forest is an area where dense mangroves, or trees specialized roots, are found. These trees grow in
estuaries and form foundations of unique ecosystem. It uses oxygen in respiration. It also serves as a shelter for many
living things.
At the edge of the estuaries, you will find salt marshes. A salt marsh is also called tidal marsh because it is found in the
intertidal zone. Low plants such as shrubs and grasses are found in this area.

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Types of Marine Ecosystems

Two types of Marine Ecosystem:

1. The Ocean Ecosystem

The Ocean Ecosystem

Open Ocean Zone

Major Zone of the Ocean

The Nearshore Regions

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