The Pelagic zone About 71 percent of Earth’s surface is water, and the average depth of the oceans is just under 4,000 meters (about 13,000ft.) Life on the planet has a few basic requirements to survive. We need energy of some kind, and to most animals that mean that they will have to eat.

What is life like in the pelagic zone?

The Pelagic zone About 71 percent of Earth’s surface is water, and the average depth of the oceans is just under 4,000 meters (about 13,000ft.) Life on the planet has a few basic requirements to survive. We need energy of some kind, and to most animals that mean that they will have to eat.

What is unique about the intertidal zone?

The defining characteristic of the intertidal zone is that it is submerged with water during high tide and exposed to the air during low tide. The zone can take many forms, from sandy beaches to rocky cliffs. It is common for the intertidal zone to change frequently, since it is constantly battered by crashing waves.

Why is the pelagic zone so important?

The pelagic zone plays many critical roles that make it essential to life on Earth. Factors that make the pelagic zone unique include: It covers more than 50% of the Earth in water, more than 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) deep. It makes up more than 99% of the inhabitable space on our planet.

What are the challenges of intertidal zone?

Challenges To Living In The Intertidal Zone Plentiful sunlight, which helps intertidal plant life grow quickly, can also rapidly dry up precious moisture and increase the water temperature. Waves that bring in much-needed nutrients and moisture can also carry unprotected animals out to sea.

What does the pelagic zone include?

The pelagic zone is the part of the open sea or ocean comprising the water column, i.e., all of the sea other than that near the coast or the sea floor. In contrast, the demersal zone comprises the water that is near to (and is significantly affected by) the coast or the sea floor.

How deep is the pelagic zone?

3.68 kilometers
The pelagic zone of the ocean occupies approximately 1,370 million cubic kilometers (330 million cubic miles) with a mean depth of 3.68 kilometers (2.29 mi) and maximum depth of 11 kilometers (6.8 mi). Fish that live in the pelagic zone are called pelagic fish.

What are the benefits of estuaries?

Importance of Estuaries

  • They act like buffers, protecting lands from crashing waves and storms.
  • They help prevent soil erosion.
  • They soak up excess flood water and tidal surges.
  • They are important feeding and/or nursery habitat for commercially and ecologically important fish and invertebrates, and migrating birds.

Where is the subtidal zone located?

The subtidal zone or sublittoral zone is the region below the intertidal zone and is continuously covered by water. This zone is far more stable than the intertidal zone.

What are the characteristics of a pelagic zone?

The regional and vertical distributions of pelagic life are governed by the abundance of nutrients and dissolved oxygen; the presence or absence of sunlight, water temperature, salinity, and pressure; and the presence of continental or submarine topographic barriers.

Why are estuaries important to our environment?

Estuaries support a diversity of species of fish, shellfish, aquatic plants and animals. The protected waters provide vital nesting, breeding and feeding habitats for many species. Estuaries also filter pollutants out of the water flowing through them, including pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals.

How is the pelagic zone divided?

The pelagic zone is divided into two provinces: the neritic province corresponds to all of the water from the low tide line to the shelf break, while the oceanic province represents all of the other water in the open ocean regions. The oceanic province is divided into depth zones (Figure 1.3.

Where is the pelagic zone found?

the open ocean
The pelagic zone is the area of the ocean outside of coastal areas. This is also called the open ocean. The open ocean lies over and beyond the continental shelf. It’s where you’ll find some of the biggest marine life species.

What is the subtidal zone?

The subtidal area is the last zone we will discuss. This area is submerged most of the time, exposed briefly during extreme low tides around full and new moon events. This zone provides habitat to a large diversity of plants and animals in contrast to the other zones.

How often does the intertidal zone repeat?

Repeat every 12 hours and 25 minutes, or so. For those remarkable organisms that call the intertidal zone home, this is similar to what they experience on a daily basis. Along the coast of California, the intertidal zone spans a height of about 2.7 meters (9 feet), which is the extent between the highest high and the lowest low tide.

What happens to the salinity of coastal waters?

Coastal waters, i.e. the intertidal and subtidal zones, experience the most extreme changes due to land processes. For example, the salinity can fluctuate between high salinity in times of hot, dry winds, to low salinity during times of heavy rain and runoff.

What is the submerged zone?

This area is submerged most of the time, exposed briefly during extreme low tides around full and new moon events. This zone provides habitat to a large diversity of plants and animals in contrast to the other zones. It is dominated by red algae and the most common animals found here are the grazers such as periwinkles and sea urchins.