Marine Environment and Their Divisions

INTRODUCTION
The ocean currently covers 71% of the earth’s surface. Around two
thirds of earth’s land area is found in the Northern Hemisphere .
The marine ecosystem is the largest aquatic system of the planet
which includes oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. Since it is large
and a complex one, it is very difficult to deal with as a whole.
This makes the oceanographers divide the ocean into zones
according to physical characteristics, mainly based on depth, light
and temperature.
The two major zones of the ocean are the sea floor, or bottom
region, called the benthic realm and the watery region above the
sea floor called the pelagic realm.
PELAGIC REALM
•The ocean’s pelagic realm is divided horizontally into two zones,
1. neritic zones :The neritic zone, also called coastal zone, is the region
which lies above the continental shelf. This is a shallow part of the
ocean and is very close to the land mass.
2. oceanic zone :The oceanic zone, is the pelagic zone which lies above
the sea floor beyond the depth of continental shelf, i.e. the water mass
that lies beyond the depth of 200 meter to the deepest part of the ocean.
pelagic realm is also divided into different zones, based on the
penetration of light and depth of water.
The pelagic realm is further subdivided vertically into five zones
i. Epipelagic zone - 0 - 200 meters deep from the surface of

the ocean (Photic zone; all light rays are seen here initially)
ii. Mesopelagic zone - from 200 -1000 meters deep
(dysphotic zone; only blue light is seen here: also referred as
"twilight zone"); its lower boundary in the tropics is the 10º C
isotherm.
iii. Bathypelagic zone - falls below 1000- 4000 meters deep
(aphotic zone; no light reaches this depth, total darkness);
lying between the boundaries of water with 10 and 4º C
isotherm layers.
iv. Abyssopelagic zone - lies below 2000 - 6000 meters deep
(aphotic zone).
v. Hadal pelagic zone - has a depth of 6000-10000 meters
(aphotic zone).
epipelagic, or euphotic zone :
• It is the top layer of the ocean zones. This is the ideal place
for about 90 % of all ocean life to live because of warm
temperature and sunlight that goes down about 660 feet.
• This is the only zone to support plant life because it has the
light needed for photosynthesis.
•As this region is diverse in plant life, there is a variety of

animals including zooplankton, crustaceans, molluscs,
sharks, sting rays, mackerels, tuna, seals, sea lions, sea
turtles, etc.
mesopelagic zone
•Though some sunlight penetrates through this zone, it is
not enough for photosynthesis to occur and plants to grow.
• This zone has some animals including octopus, squid, and
hatchet fish.
• The animals living in this zone must survive cold
temperatures, increased water pressure, and dark water.
• Some fish have extra big eyes to help them see, while
others produce their own light called bioluminescence using
special organs in their bodies called photophors.
•Most fish don’t chase their food but they either wait for it or
stalk it. Some have sharp fangs or big mouths to help them
catch their food
bathypelagic zone
•It can be as deep as 20,000 feet. No sunlight reaches this

zone so it is freezing and completely dark.
• It also has a very intense water pressure which can be as

great as two tons per square inch.
•Just like the mesopelagic zone, there are no plants and even
fewer organisms.
• Some organisms in this zone are vampire squid, giant

squid, amphipod, slime stars, snake dragon fish, anglerfish,
oarfish, gulper eel
Hadal zone
•It is the deepest parts of the ocean, causing it to be totally dark,
and constantly cold, with a very intense pressure.
•The deep-sea creatures have adapted to the darkness by reducing

their use of eyesight.
•The fish do have eyes, though, and they are usually enormous,
which indicates enough flashes of bioluminescent light to keep
their eyes from totally deteriorating.
• The animals that live near the bottom have a reddish or pinkish
coloration, possibly because the red light waves are absorbed in
the topmost layers of the ocean.
BENTHIC REALM
Benthic, a term meaning bottom is the name of the ocean zone
ranging from the deepest parts of the ocean to the tidal affected
areas.
The most productive region of the benthic zone is the area over
the continental margin, which is unaffected by the tides.
 Many groups and varieties of animals live here, a few are
worms, sea pens, crustaceans, stars, and protozoa.
 The life in this zone is mostly made up of bottom dwellers
which get most of their food from dead and decaying
organisms.
Therefore most of the organisms in the benthic zone are
scavengers because they depend on dead flesh as their main
food source.
The benthic environment is further divided by depth
into five zones
i. Intertidal zone – the area between the lowest low tide and
highest high tide markings, it is sometimes called the littoral
zone.
ii. Sub littoral zone – from the lowest low tide mark to the
shelf break, about 200 m deep. This area essentially
coincides with the continental shelf.
iii. Bathyal zone – from the shelf break to 4000 m. This area
coincides with the continental slope and rise.
iv. Abyssal zone – from 4000 to 6000 m. This includes the
average depth of the deep ocean floor.
v. Hadal zone – sea floor deeper than 6000 m. This includes
the trenches, the deepest part of the sea floor.

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INTRODUCTION

i. Epipelagic zone - 0 - 200 meters deep from the surface of

•As this region is diverse in plant life, there is a variety of

•It can be as deep as 20,000 feet. No sunlight reaches this

• It also has a very intense water pressure which can be as

• Some organisms in this zone are vampire squid, giant

•The deep-sea creatures have adapted to the darkness by reducing

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