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Marine habitat

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A bright yellow Yellow Tang fish swimming in an aquarium at Bristol Zoo – this is the character Bubbles from the movie Finding Nemo!

Marine Habitat

A marine habitat is a special place in the sea where different kinds of marine life live. The word marine comes from an old Latin word that means sea or ocean. These habitats are places where animals and plants can survive, and they all need the saltwater found in the ocean.

Marine habitats can be divided into two main types: coastal and open ocean habitats. Coastal habitats are near the shore. They stretch from where the tide reaches up to the edge of the continental shelf. Most sea creatures live in these areas, even though they are only a small part of the ocean. Open ocean habitats are far from shore, in the deep parts of the ocean beyond the continental shelf.

Another way to look at marine habitats is by dividing them into pelagic and demersal zones. Pelagic habitats are near the ocean’s surface or in the open water column. Demersal habitats are close to or on the ocean floor. Some sea creatures, like corals, kelp, mangroves, and seagrasses, change their environment to create new homes for other animals.

The ocean gives us the most space for life on our planet. There are five big oceans, with the Pacific Ocean being the largest. The ocean covers most of Earth’s surface and holds almost all of our planet’s liquid water.

Marine habitats are important because they support many kinds of plants and animals. They help sea creatures find food and shelter. The ocean is a big home for life, and every part of it, from the shore to the deep sea, is special and full of creatures waiting to be discovered.

Images

A stunning view of Earth from space, showing our planet with clouds and continents as captured by NASA satellites.
A colorful tube sponge in the ocean, home to small fish like cardinal fishes, golden sweepers, and wrasses.
A beautiful Acacia farnesiana plant growing near the ocean on the island of Kahoolawe in Hawaii.
A satellite view of a massive bloom of tiny ocean plants called Emiliania huxleyi, which look like white clouds floating in the water.
Map showing the five major ocean gyres and their currents around the world.
A colorful world map showing the depth of the world's oceans, made from scientific data.
A scenic view of El Golfo on the island of El Hierro, showcasing dramatic volcanic rock formations along the coast.
A beautiful view of the rocky island of La Désirade as seen from Guadeloupe.
Beautiful white chalk cliffs and sandy beaches near the town of Portrush in Northern Ireland.
A beautiful tidepool area on the west coast of Portugal, showing marine life in a natural habitat.
A pair of elegant Black-necked Stilts standing in their natural habitat.
A dense mangrove forest in the Sundarbans, showing tall trees and unique breathing roots sticking out of the water.
A beautiful view of the Conwy Estuary from Great Orme's Head, showing the river meeting the sea in North Wales.
A colorful fish swimming among tall kelp plants in a beautiful underwater forest.

Related articles

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Marine habitat, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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