Ocean Ecosystems

There are five major oceans in the world; the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Indian, and the Southern Ocean, which is sometimes assumed to be the southern parts of the other three oceans. The Arctic Ocean, which is the world's shallowest ocean, is also the smallest one in the world. These oceans are spread out all across the world, which means that the ocean ecosystems in these areas are different based on the temperature of the region. The amount of heat or cold that is in the region of the ocean has a lot to do with the type of plants that will grow there, which indicates the types of animals that will be able to live in that ocean.

Oceans are geologically considered to be oceanic crusts that are covered by water. The crust is actually a thin layer of volcanic basalt that covers the part of the earth where there are no continents. Ocean ecosystems take up about three fourths of the earth's surface, and the biosphere is directly affected by the oceans. When the oceans evaporated, most of the earth's rainfall is produced, and the climate and wind pattern determines which areas of the world will get the most rainfall.

The animals that live in ocean ecosystems vary, but there are large amounts of algae, barnacles, and muscles in most of the bodies of water. These animals live very near the shore of the ocean, and they will attach themselves to rocks so that they are not washed away with the tide. Sea floor animals live in the ocean as well, such as coral or larger seaweed plants, and smaller fish find homes in these 'plants'.

People also assume that the ocean is a deep blue color, but this is only partly true. The water in this ecosystem does have a blue tint to it due to the sky, but the real reason for the color of the ocean has to do with the absorption of the nuclei in the water molecules. However, many of the bodies of water on the planet are losing their clear or blue color properties due to pollution and an excess of waste in the water.

You can find out more about the ocean ecosystems, as well as how you can preserve these bodies of water when you visit www.epa.gov for tips on how you can get involved in your area.