1. MARINE BIOMES Marine biomes generally have salt concentrations that average 3%. Marine algae and photosynthetic bacteria supply a substantial portion of the world’s oxygen and consume huge amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

2. OCEANS Did you know that life on planet Earth began in the oceans more than 3 billion years ago? Covers about 75% of the earth’s surface The Four Main Oceans: Pacific Ocean Atlantic Ocean Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean The evaporation of water from the oceans provides most of the planet’s rainfall, and ocean temperatures have a major effect on world climate and wind patterns.

6. Neritic Zone

9. Ocean Pelagic Zone Extends past continental shelves, can be very deep, is the open water Includes most of the ocean’s water. Benthic Zone The substrate at the bottom of all aquatic biomes. Made up of sand and organic and inorganic sediments (“ooze”). Occupied by communities of organisms collectively called benthos. A major source of food for the benthos is dead organic matter called detritus. Abyssal Zone The deepest regions of the ocean floor.

10. CORAL REEFS are widely distributed in warm shallow waters dominated by structure of coral itself formed by diverse group of cnidarians that secrete hard external skeletons made of calcium carbonate cerates a substrate upon which other corals, sponges, algae grow very diverse assortment of vertebrates and invertebrates very productive currents and waves constantly renew nutrients light penetrates to ocean floor allowing photosynthesis

11. ESTUARIES Areas where freshwater merges with ocean Freshwater meets salt water Salinity varies From that of fresh water to that of ocean water One of most productive biomes on earth due to nutrients delivered by rivers