Marine life – sea creatures

So you thought that all of the interesting creatures lived on land? You know, the lions, the tigers, the bears… well think again! Ocean waters cover 71% of the earth’s surface! The depths of the ocean include the inner tidal zone (the coastal land that is daily covered and uncovered by seawater) to the deepest ocean depth of about 33,000 feet or 10,000 meters. In addition to terrestrial biomes, the earth is also home to marine and aquatic biomes. There are five major types of ocean biomes: Costal waters, near shore zones, coral reefs, open oceans, and vent communities.

All of these unique biomes harbor many interesting forms of life! The costal waters are usually shallow enough to allow sunlight reach a variety of algae; costal rivers also supply many nutrients to the abundant and diverse life in this inter-tidal zone. Because of the rising and falling of the tides, the plants and animals such as scallops, crabs, barnacles, and sea anemones must survive the exposures to both air and water. The near shore zone lies beyond the inter-tidal zone and is more stable since there is no direct exposure to air, so organisms in this zone are strictly aquatic. Kelp plants protect and nourish the abundant life in these shallow waters. Coral Reefs are often found in warm tropical waters. The reefs are formed from the skeletons of the various species of coral. Sponges, sea anemones and hundreds of species of fish add a variety of color to this diverse community of plants and animals. The open ocean is populated by different species of microscopic plant organisms such as phytoplankton which are consumed by the microscopic animals called zooplankton which are consumed by various species of fish and sea mammals such as whales. The vent communities lie in the great depths of the abyssal zone where there is no light. For the most part, this zone is cold and barren. Without sunlight to provide an energy source, it was thought that very few life forms could survive. However, there are openings in the earth that look like small volcanoes called vents, which provide heat and nutrients to strange clusters of tube worms, white crabs and clams, creatures of the wondrous world of the marine biome.

Yet this marine life changes over time, this only adds to the amazing qualities about sea life. So how has marine life changed through time? Marine life includes all organisms which live and depend on the ocean for their survival. Some oceanographers study the history of life on earth by looking at marine fossils in which minerals have preserve the skeletons of ancient plants and animals in rock layers. Some of these are more than 6 million years old. Descendents of these ancient sea animals still live today. Many of them still resemble their ancestors. Many have adapted however into quite different creatures. Over time these adaptations (body shape, body functions, color, and camouflage) all help the creature live in the sea.
So, now have I convinced you just how amazing sea creatures are? I am sure I have. So fashion your seat belts, your going on an underwater adventure.

Posted in introduction