Marine Biome Facts

You maybe aware of one important marine biome facts that it covers about three-fourths of the earth. This makes it one of the largest biomes on earth. But do you know what does biome mean exactly and which are the other biomes on earth?

The term 'biomes' was coined by Dr. Deitrich Malinger, a pioneering environmentalist, in 1967. According to Malinger, they were ecological districts that have distinct climate and topography. Biome is defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" according to Campbell in 1995. The basic biomes of the world are divided into 6 groups, namely:

• Freshwater biomes
• Marine biomes
• Desert biomes
• Forest biomes
• Grassland biomes
• Tundra biomes

Information on the Marine Biome
This biome includes three fourth of the earths water that contains thousands of different animals and plants. These plants and animals are directly and indirectly affected by the changes occurring in water. The biome consists of all the salty waters of the seas and oceans. It also includes all the smaller water bodies like seas, gulfs and bays. The marine biome is divided between oceans, coral reeds and estuaries.

Facts on Marine Biome of the Oceans
The marine biome consists of 5 major oceans namely, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Southern or Antarctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The largest water body is the ocean and it is divided into three layers. The first layer is known as euphotic layer. This is a shallow layer and light is able to reach it. The plants and animals of this region include fish and marine mammals, plankton and some floating seaweed. The second layer consists of disphotic zone, through which light equal to the intensity of twilight is able to reach the bottom. The plants and animals layer include starfish, anemones, sponges, amongst others, as well as various micro-organisms and few plant species. The last layer is the apotic zone. This is the deepest part of the ocean and no light ever reaches its bottom. The flora and fauna of this layer include invertebrates and fish including such oddities as the coelacanth and fish that can glow in the dark.

Plants and Animals of the Ocean
The ocean is also divided into four separate zones. The first zone is known as the intertidal zone. This is the layer where the land meets the ocean. It maybe submerged or an exposed area due to the tidal waves. The flora and fauna in the intertidal zone consists of algae and mollusks in areas where the highest tides reach. The algae, herbivorous snails, crabs, sea stars, and small fishes are found in areas that are submerged during high tide. The invertebrates, fishes and seaweed are found in areas that receive the lowest tides. The areas which keeps shifting due to waves like the mud and sand is home for algae and plants like worms, clams, predatory crustaceans, crabs and shorebirds.

The second zone consists of the pelagic zone, that covers areas further away from land, that is, open ocean. The marine biome plants and animals of this zone include hundreds of different species of fish, mammals like dolphins, whales and plankton. The plankton forms the major food source for fish and mammals of the food chain in the pelagic zone.

The third zone is called the benthic zone. This zone is the area that is right below the pelagic zone. This region does not include the deepest parts of the ocean. The benthic zone bottom is made of sand, slit and dead organisms. Light does not penetrate deep inside and this region is rich in natural nutrients. The plants and animals of the benthic zone include bacteria, fungi, sponges, sea anemones, worms, sea stars and fishes.

The last zone is the abyssal zone. It is the deepest part of the marine biome. This area receives no light and is high in oxygen content and low in nutrient content. This region has different plants and animals like invertebrates and fishes. The abyssal zone also includes chemosynthetic bacteria and are the primary food source for the invertebrates and fishes food chain in this zone.

Information on Coral Reefs
An interesting marine biome fact on coral reefs is that they are the only animals that can build structures visible from space. The 2000 mile long Great Barrier Reef of Australia made by millions of small coral polyps is another interesting marine biome fact. The coral reefs are found in warm shallow waters around the world. They are found in fringing islands, atolls along many continents, etc. The corals are made of algae and tissues of animal polyps. The corals obtain nutrients to survive through photosynthesis process carried out by algae and extending their tentacles to capture plankton in water. The other marine animals and plants of the coral reef include microorganisms, invertebrates, fishes, sea urchins, star fishes, octopuses, etc.

Information on Estuaries
Estuaries are partially enclosed body of water that are formed in areas where freshwater from rivers and streams flows into the ocean and get mixed with the salty waters. The facts on estuaries include the many names known around the world like bays, lagoons, harbors, inlets and sounds. The plants and animals of the estuaries include algae, seaweeds, marsh grasses and mangroves. The estuaries support a vast and diverse flora and fauna.

Marine Biome Climate
The marine biome climate has a very deep influence on the terrestrial climate. The evaporation of the water from the oceans and seas helps in formation of rain and thus have a direct impact on agriculture and world economy. The ocean is constantly moving and the currents and waves are warm or cold depending on the weather and temperature in a particular region of the earth. The marine biome temperature is just above freezing point at the north and south poles and deep in the abyssal zone. The tropical waters have a warm marine biome climate. The tropical waters are near the equator and hence have warm marine biome temperatures. The climate far north and south of the earth are frozen and consist of huge block of ice known as icebergs. The average temperature of the marine biome climate is about 39º F. The climate is different in different areas of the world.

Food Web
The marine biome food web is a complex structure. All animals require food and water to survive. Similarly, all aquatic plants and animals are members of the marine food web. The first level of the food chain is covered by the phytoplankton. The next level of food chain is covered by zoo planktons that eat phytoplankton. The zoo plankton are in turn eaten by the next in line of the marine food chain, that is, krill, fishes, crustaceans, etc. The fourth level of marine food chain are consumed by big fishes, penguins, seals, walrus and whales. The penguins and seals are eaten by polar bears and seals hunted by human. Humans are always placed high up in the food chain as although they are not part of the marine biome, they consume sea foods like fishes, crabs, lobsters, etc. If even one member of the marine biome food chain becomes extinct, the food chain will go for a toss.

• The ocean water contains one cup of salt per gallon of water
• The tallest part on earth is beaten by the deepest part of the ocean. The Marina Trench is measured to approximately 36,200 feet deep.
• The phytoplankton and kelp help in the production of 5% of the world's oxygen content
• There are 1,000,000 hair per square inch on the body of sea otter.
• The tongue of the blue whale is so long that 20 grown people can stand on it!

These were a few marine biome facts. There are many facts about marine biome just as its size.