Ocean Life Zones

Life Science - Middle School

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Ocean Life Zones Open Coastal Sea Zone Life Zones of the Ocean: The oceans cover almost 75% of the earth. They can be divided into the coastal zone - shallow, warmer waters along the coasts, full of nutrient-rich materials, and the open sea - the rest of the ocean away from land. Vertical Ocean Life Zones: The ocean is also divided into zones from top to bottom. In the top layer sunlight reaches 650 feet (200m). This is the photic zone. The deeper, dimly lit bathyal zone reaches down to 3,300 feet (1,000m). Deeper still, the cold, dark abyssal zone reaches the ocean floor at 13,000 feet (4,000m) or deeper. Microscopic phytoplankton and zooplankton make up the bottom of the ocean’s food web. Abyssal Zone: has pressure that increases as you descend deeper. Only some animals, like the sperm whale and giant squid, can survive the great pressure here. By the time you reach the ocean floor, only creatures like squid, worms and sea stars remain to feed on the falling debris and nutrients. Photic Zone: has light and many fish, whales, dolphins and sharks. Bathyal Zone: has very little light, but many animals live here, including bioluminescent animals that make their own light. Amsel Bathyal Zone Abyssal Zone Photic Zone Intertidal Zones in the Coastal Zone Splash Zone Low Tide Zone Middle Tide Zone High Tide Zone Low Tide Zone: Mostly underwater. Middle Tide Zone: Half the time underwater and half in open air. High Tide Zone: Underwater only when the tide is high. Splash Zone: Dry but for spray.
94-4061 Ocean Life Zones Intertidal Zones in the Coastal Zone Life Zones of the Ocean: The oceans cover almost 75% of the earth. They can be divided into the _______________________ zone - shallow, warmer waters along the coasts, full of nutrient-rich materials and the _______________________ sea - the rest of the ocean away from land. Vertical Ocean Life Zones: The ocean is also divided into zones from top to bottom. In the top layer sunlight reaches 650 feet (200m). This is the _____________________ zone. The deeper, dimly lit bathyal zone reaches down to 3,300 feet (1,000m). Deeper still, the cold, _____________________ abyssal zone reaches the ocean floor at 13,000 feet (4,000m) or deeper. Microscopic phytoplankton and zooplankton make up the bottom of the ocean’s food web. Splash Zone Low Tide Zone Middle Tide Zone High Tide Zone Abyssal Zone: has pressure that increases as you descend deeper. Only some animals, like the ________________ whale and giant ________________, can survive the great pressure here. By the time you reach the ocean floor, only creatures like squid, worms and sea stars remain to feed on the falling debris and nutrients. Photic Zone: has ___________________ and many fish, whales, dolphins and sharks. Bathyal Zone: has very little light, but many animals live here, including ____________________________ animals that make their own light. Low Tide Zone: Mostly underwater. Middle Tide Zone: Half the time underwater and half in open air. High Tide Zone: Underwater only when the tide is high. Splash Zone: Dry but for spray. Amsel Bathyal Zone Abyssal Zone Photic Zone Open Coastal Sea Zone