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Divisions of the Marine EnvironmentI. Pelagic (open sea)

Neritic (< 200 meters) and oceanic

II. Benthic (sea floor)Subneritic and suboceanic

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Pelagic EnvironmentDivided into

biozones 1. Neritic Province –

from shore seaward, all water < 200 meters deep

2. Oceanic Province – depth increases beyond 200 meters

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Oceanic ProvinceFurther subdivided into four biozones1. Epipelagic

a) Only zone to support photosynthesisb) Dissolved oxygen decreases around 200 meters

2. Mesopelagic a) Organisms capable of bioluminescence common

3. Bathypelagic4. Abyssopelagic

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Ocean Zones Based on Light AvailabilityI. Euphotic – surface to where enough light

exists to support photosynthesisII. Disphotic – small but measurable quantities

of lightIII. Aphotic – no light

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Benthic Environments I. SupralittoralII. Subneritic

1. Littoral2. Sublittoral

a) Innerb) Outer

III. Suboceanic1. Bathyal2. Abyssal3. Hadal

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Organisms of the Deep

Ocean ZonationThe ocean can be divided into many zones. The ocean bottom is the (1)benthic zone and the water itself (of the water column) is the (2) pelagic zone. The (3)neritic zone is that part of pelagic zone that extends from the high tide line to an ocean bottom less than 600 feet deep. Water deeper than 600 feet is called the (4)oceanic zone, which itself is divided on the basis of water depth into the (5)epipelagic, (6)mesopelagic, and (7)bathypelagic zones. These zones roughly correspond to three other zones divided on the basis of the amount of sunlight they receive. In the (8)euphotic zone, enough light penetrates to support photosynthesis. Below that lies the (9)disphotic zone, where very small amounts of light penetrate. 90% of the space in the ocean lies in the (10)aphotic zone, which entirely devoid on light.