Drill:
What is Marine
Biology?
How does it
differ from
Oceanography?
Outcome:
Compare oceanic
divisions and zones by
drawing and labeling a
diagram and describing
the abiotic and biotic
factors.
What is Marine Biology?
How does it differ from Oceanography?
 Marine biology is the study of living organisms and how
they interact in their environment
 Coral reefs and clown fish
 Epidemic affecting Sea Stars
 Oceanography is the study of oceans and their
phenomena.
 Trenches
 Hurricane patterns
Agenda
Discuss the imp of Marine Biology.
- How can it affect you?
Define the different zones of the ocean.
Draw oceanic divisions and zones.
Catalog which organisms live in each zone.
Vocabulary we will be looking at:
-
Marine Biology
Biotic
Abiotic
Photic
Disphotic
Aphotic
Pelagic Zone
Neritic Zone
Supralittoral
Littoral
Sublittoral
-
Oceanic Zone
Epipelagic (Epi)
Mesopelagic (Meso)
Bathypelagic (Bathyal)
Abyssalpelagic (Abyssal)
Hadalpelagic (Hadal)
What is Marine Biology?
 What can you do with a career in Marine Biology?
What is Marine Biology?
 What can you do with a career in Marine Biology?
What is Marine Biology?
 What can you do with a career in Marine Biology?
But…
 Before you can start diving with killer whales, dolphins,
and sharks you must know a little about their world!
 Everything we discuss in this class and prepare you for a
jump start to a career in Marine Biology!!
 Stop me at ANY time if you have questions, comments, or
concerns! 
Marine Scientists
 Marine scientists classify marine environments into many
different regions based on physical characteristics.
 The ocean is classified into different zones or regions
based on abiotic factors (light, depth, temperature, density,
latitude, and distance)
Photic Zone versus Aphotic Zone
 Photic Zone – is the depth to which
light penetrates to support
photosynthetic life
 Ex. Epipelagic Zone and the Neritic
Zone
 Disphotic Zone – is the depth to
which light penetrates but it will not
support photosynthetic life
 Ex. Mesopelagic Zone
 Aphotic Zone – this is the layer of
water light cannot penetrate,
chemosynthesis
 Ex. Bathypelagic, Abyssopelagic,
Hadalpelagic
Location
 The Pelagic Zone is the water column portion.
1) Neritic zone – is the water located nearest the
coast (coastal zone) between the low tide mark to the
edge of the continental shelf.
2) Oceanic zone – is the open water area beyond
the neritic zone. The oceanic zone is further
divided into five separate regions.
Pelagic Zone
The Neritic Zone
 There are three zones located near the Neritic Zone:
 Supralittoral Zone – splash zone (This is NOT a part of
the Neritic Zone)
 Littoral Zone – this is the intertidal zone. It’s the area
between high tide and low tide. (This is part of the Neritic
Zone.)
 Sublittoral Zone – this is area below the low water mark
and the edge of the continental shelf. (This is NOT part of
the Neritic Zone.)
Neritic Zone
Oceanic Zones Regions
• The Oceanic Zone is further divided into five vertical regions:
1) Epipelagic zone – top layer sun light penetrates (0-200m)
2) Mesopleagic zone – sunlight reaches, but not strong enough to
support photosynthetic life (200-1000m)
3) Bathypelagic zone – no sunlight/photosynthesis (1000-4000m)
4) Abyssalpelagic zone – no sunlight/photosynthesis (4000-6000m)
5) Hadalpelagic zone – no sunlight/photosynthesis and the deepest
water in the oceanic trenches (6000m plus)
Benthic Zone
 The Benthic zone is the lowest area in a body of water,
below 1000m.
 In regards to the ocean the Benthic Zone includes the:
 Bathypelagic zone
 Abyssalpelagic zone
 Hadalpelagic zone
Placing Organisms
 Take the organism given to you and place it in the oceanic
zone that you believe it would be found in the majority of
its life.
 Support your answer and be ready to discuss.
 Ex: Sponge: A sponge
would live in the epipelagic
zone because it needs light to
survive.