Covering about 70 percent of the earth, the marine biome is the largest biome on the planet. It comprises the Antarctic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean, plus smaller Bays and Gulfs. Also, the marine biome consists of 80 percent of all the earth’s habitats, making it the largest habitat on our planet. The 36,200 feet deep Mariana Trench, which is deeper than the height of Mt. Everest, is the deepest point of the marine biome. The marine biome can also be divided into oceans, estuaries, and coral reefs, with the oceans representing the most diverse and largest of ecosystems. The water of the oceans evaporates and turns into rain, which nourishes the land where it falls.

The Various Zones of the Marine Biome

The Inter-Tidal Zone: The oceans are connected to the land through the inter-tidal zone. The coastal areas of the marine biome are in a constant state of change due to the rise and fall of the tides, with a variety of marine plants and animals inhabiting the seashore and the bottom. Coastal areas that are rocky have fewer species of animals and plants since only the highest of tides can reach the top of the steep rocks. Coral reefs form barriers in the shallow, warm waters of the marine biome, which border the continents and the islands. Coral is an organism that consists of algae and animal tissues. They can provide themselves with nutrition like plants via photosynthesis as well as like animals by catching micro-organisms with their tentacles. Other species of the marine biome also inhabit the coral reefs, such as octopi, starfish, and various other mollusks. Read the rest of this entry »