Marine Habitat Profiles
About 70% of our planet is covered with water. Most of this water is salt water, made up of the oceans covering the Earth. Within these oceans, there are many different types of habitat, ranging from freezing polar ice to tropical coral reefs. Here you will find profiles of the major marine habitats and the organisms that inhabit them.
Marine Habitats - Facts and Profiles of Marine Habitats
About 70% of our planet is covered with water. Earth has been nicknamed “the blue planet” because it looks blue from space. About 96% of this water is marine, or salt water, made up of the oceans covering the Earth. Within these oceans, there are many different types of habitat, or environments in which plants and animals live, ranging from freezing polar ice to tropical coral reefs.
About 70% of our planet is covered with water. Earth has been nicknamed “the blue planet” because it looks blue from space. About 96% of this water is marine, or salt water, made up of the oceans covering the Earth. Within these oceans, there are many different types of habitat, or environments in which plants and animals live, ranging from freezing polar ice to tropical coral reefs.
Major Marine Habitats
About 70% of our planet is covered with water. Earth has been nicknamed “the blue planet” because it looks blue from space. About 96% of this water is marine, or salt water, made up of the oceans covering the Earth. Within these oceans, there are many different types of habitat, or environments in which plants and animals live, ranging from freezing polar ice to tropical coral reefs. These…
About 70% of our planet is covered with water. Earth has been nicknamed “the blue planet” because it looks blue from space. About 96% of this water is marine, or salt water, made up of the oceans covering the Earth. Within these oceans, there are many different types of habitat, or environments in which plants and animals live, ranging from freezing polar ice to tropical coral reefs. These…
Learn about Corals and Coral Reefs
Coral reefs provide some of the most spectacular underwater scenery, and marine life biodiversity in the world. Here you can learn what coral is, how coral reefs form, and threats to coral reefs.
Coral reefs provide some of the most spectacular underwater scenery, and marine life biodiversity in the world. Here you can learn what coral is, how coral reefs form, and threats to coral reefs.
Coral Reefs
Learn about coral reefs, a center for biodiversity and an important marine habitat. This page discusses tropical corals, cold-water corals, the marine life species that inhabit them and the natural and human threats to coral reefs in the oceans.
Learn about coral reefs, a center for biodiversity and an important marine habitat. This page discusses tropical corals, cold-water corals, the marine life species that inhabit them and the natural and human threats to coral reefs in the oceans.
Seagrasses
Seagrass is an angiosperm (flowering plant) that lives an a marine or brackish environment. There are about 50 species of true seagrasses worldwide and they are found within the plant families Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, and Cymodoceaceae. Seagrasses require lots of light, so the depths at which they occur in the ocean are limited by the availability of light. Seagrasses are found in protected coastal waters such as bays and lagoons.
Seagrass is an angiosperm (flowering plant) that lives an a marine or brackish environment. There are about 50 species of true seagrasses worldwide and they are found within the plant families Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, and Cymodoceaceae. Seagrasses require lots of light, so the depths at which they occur in the ocean are limited by the availability of light. Seagrasses are found in protected coastal waters such as bays and lagoons.
Intertidal Zone
The intertidal zone is the area where land and sea meet. This zone is covered with water at high tide, and exposed to air at low tide, and often includes tide pools. Learn about the intertidal zone habitat, the types of marine life that live here and threats to this habitat.
The intertidal zone is the area where land and sea meet. This zone is covered with water at high tide, and exposed to air at low tide, and often includes tide pools. Learn about the intertidal zone habitat, the types of marine life that live here and threats to this habitat.
Mangroves - Mangrove Swamps
The term “mangrove” is used to refer to a habitat comprised of a number of halophytic (salt-tolerant) plant species, of which there are more than 12 families and 50 species worldwide. Mangrove are found along tropical and sub-tropical coastlines in Africa, Australia, Asia and North and South America.
The term “mangrove” is used to refer to a habitat comprised of a number of halophytic (salt-tolerant) plant species, of which there are more than 12 families and 50 species worldwide. Mangrove are found along tropical and sub-tropical coastlines in Africa, Australia, Asia and North and South America.
The Open Ocean - Pelagic Zone
The open ocean, or pelagic zone, is the area of the ocean outside of coastal areas, and where you’ll find some of the biggest marine life species, including whales, bluefin tuna, and giant squid.
The open ocean, or pelagic zone, is the area of the ocean outside of coastal areas, and where you’ll find some of the biggest marine life species, including whales, bluefin tuna, and giant squid.
The Deep Sea - Benthic and Abyssal Zones
The deep sea includes the deepest, darkest, coldest parts of the ocean. Eighty percent of the ocean consists of waters in the deep sea greater than 1,000 meters in depth. Parts of the deep sea described here are also included in the pelagic zone, but these deep sea areas in the deepest parts of the ocean have their own special characteristics. Most deep sea areas are cold, dark, and inhospitable to us humans, but support a surprising number of species that thrive in this deep sea environment.
The deep sea includes the deepest, darkest, coldest parts of the ocean. Eighty percent of the ocean consists of waters in the deep sea greater than 1,000 meters in depth. Parts of the deep sea described here are also included in the pelagic zone, but these deep sea areas in the deepest parts of the ocean have their own special characteristics. Most deep sea areas are cold, dark, and inhospitable to us humans, but support a surprising number of species that thrive in this deep sea environment.
What is a Hydrothermal Vent?
Hydrothermal vents, located in the deep sea, were discovered relatively recently. It was only about 30 years ago that scientists in the submersible [i]Alvin[/i] discovered these undersea "geysers."
Hydrothermal vents, located in the deep sea, were discovered relatively recently. It was only about 30 years ago that scientists in the submersible [i]Alvin[/i] discovered these undersea "geysers."
Seas and Oceans
Read more about the geologic features of the oceans, including ridges, hydrothermal vents and trenches.
Read more about the geologic features of the oceans, including ridges, hydrothermal vents and trenches.
Tides and Waves - How Do Tides and Waves Work
Understanding ocean waves is an important part of understanding the coastal habitats they influence.
Understanding ocean waves is an important part of understanding the coastal habitats they influence.
Great Barrier Reef - Animals of the Great Barrier Reef
Learn about the numbers of species that live in the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef.
Learn about the numbers of species that live in the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef.
Coral Reefs - How Do Coral Reefs Form?
Learn about the tiny animals that make up coral reefs and how coral reefs form and grow.
Learn about the tiny animals that make up coral reefs and how coral reefs form and grow.
UN Atlas of the Oceans Marine Habitat Primer
The Earth is often referred to as the ‘Blue Planet’. This is because, when you look at it from outer space, the oceans and seas that cover more than 70 percent of its surface give it a blue appearance. On this site, learn about coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, rocky shores and sandy shores.
The Earth is often referred to as the ‘Blue Planet’. This is because, when you look at it from outer space, the oceans and seas that cover more than 70 percent of its surface give it a blue appearance. On this site, learn about coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses, rocky shores and sandy shores.
Planet Earth - Oceans (Discovery Channel)
We are just beginning to explore this habitat in the oceans. Learn about the deep sea (the abyss) and the animals that live there in this site from the Discovery Channel.
We are just beginning to explore this habitat in the oceans. Learn about the deep sea (the abyss) and the animals that live there in this site from the Discovery Channel.
Organisms That Thrive in Arctic Sea Ice (NOAA)
Learn about the variety of life that thrives in sea ice, which covers much of the northern hemisphere's ocean. Learn about bacteria, viruses, algae, marine invertebrates and mammals that live here.
Learn about the variety of life that thrives in sea ice, which covers much of the northern hemisphere's ocean. Learn about bacteria, viruses, algae, marine invertebrates and mammals that live here.
Mangrove Swamps - Environmental Protection Agency
Mangrove swamps are in subtropical to tropical waters, and have trees growing in salt- or brackish water. This site hosted by the EPA describes mangrove swamps.
Mangrove swamps are in subtropical to tropical waters, and have trees growing in salt- or brackish water. This site hosted by the EPA describes mangrove swamps.
Live Kelp Cam (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
The kelp forest is home to a variety of organisms that take shelter within the giant kelp. View a live web cam of a kelp forest and see if you can spot some animal inhabitants!
The kelp forest is home to a variety of organisms that take shelter within the giant kelp. View a live web cam of a kelp forest and see if you can spot some animal inhabitants!