marine ecosystem

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generalized aquatic food web

hydrothermal mussels

palinurid lobster life cycle

Algae, primarily diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids, which are often collectively called phytoplankton, are the base of the food chain for all marine organisms.

Upwelling process along coast

marine food chain

Learn about microplastic and its harmful effect on marine animals

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A large school of mano (sharks) called Galapagos sharks at Maro Reef in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)a worldwide species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae.

Saving Sharks in the 2020s

Star fish entangled in gillnet

Talking Ocean Trash: Ghost Gear Keeps on Fishing

algae. Lake Erie. Dead fish in harmful algal bloom along the southeast Lake Erie shore of Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada, 5 miles north of the international line Aug. 19, 2011. Toxic algae blooms, drinking water, 4th largest of 5 Great Lakes

Harmful Algal Blooms

Great Barrier Reef coral bleached area map and infographic

Coral Bleaching: A Threat to Our Reefs

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Aurochs. Bos primigenius. Skeleton. Extinct animal. Skeleton of an Aurochs, an extinct wild ox.

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Germans from East and West stand on the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the November 10, 1989, photo, one day after the wall opened.

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marine ecosystem: Facts & Related Content

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Facts

Also Known As	ocean ecosystem • sea ecosystem

Photos and Videos

generalized aquatic food web

hydrothermal mussels

palinurid lobster life cycle

Algae, primarily diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids, which are often collectively called phytoplankton, are the base of the food chain for all marine organisms.

Upwelling process along coast

marine food chain

Learn about microplastic and its harmful effect on marine animals

Know about microbead (microplastic) pollution and its devastating effect on marine life

How climate change affects sea life

Know why urinating in the ocean is not chemically damaging to the marine ecosystem

Take an in-depth look at the variety of plankton, from diatoms and microflagellates to jellyfish

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Topics

hadal zone aphotic zone marine animal abyssal zone bathyal zone bottom water littoral zone halocline photic zone deep-scattering layer inland water ecosystem boundary ecosystem pelagic zone

Key People

Timothy Parsons

Canadian biologist

Quiz

Chutes d'Ekom - a waterfall on the Nkam river in the rainforest near Melong, in the western highlands of Cameroon in Africa.

Ecosystems