How inappropriate to call this planet “Earth” when it is clearly “Ocean”—

Arthur C. Clarke

Neritic & Open Ocean

Pelagic Zones

PelagicIf you are swimming in the ocean and can’t touch the bottom, you are in the PELAGIC part of the ocean.

Pelagic = Oceanic, Aquatic, Marine

Neritic Z

one

Open Ocean Zone

The Neritic ZonePHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. How deep is it? The average depth is about 200 meters---this is

considered shallow in the ocean.2. The neritic zone is the water above the

continental shelf. How big is the shelf? The average size of the continental shelf is

about 65 km (40 miles). This is about the distance from Helena to Tuscaloosa or to Clanton.

The Neritic ZoneCOOL SIZE FACTS

Like the depth of the water in all oceans, the continental shelf size around each continent varies.

Some parts of the coast of California have a contiental shelf that is less than 1 km.

In northern Siberia, the continental shelf is nearly 1,290 km (800 miles!)

1. The Neritic Zone has more animals and plants than any other part of the ocean. Why? Sunlight shines through the whole zone Nutrients from land & upwelling Sunlight (photosynthesis)+ Nutrients =

FOOD

2. Most commercial fishing and deep sea fishing take place in the Neritic Zone.

The Neritic ZonePHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

1. What is a coral? Very tiny animals similar to a sea anemone--about the size

of a pencil eraser Build hard shells that remain after they die

2. What is a coral reef? Living coral attach to the shells left by dead coral After many years, a coral reef will form

3. Where are they found? Shallow, tropical oceans near the equator

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—COOL FACTS

1. A special microscopic algae lives inside them.

provides nutrition when food is scarce helps to make corals brightly colored

2. Corals are carnivorous.

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—COOL FACTS

3. Not all of them are the size of an eraser. 4. Some are large enough to eat a jellyfish!

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS---FORMATION

Step #1---FRINGE REEF Coral builds up around a volcanic island.

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS---FORMATION

Step #2---BARRIER REEF Volcanic island starts to sink Lagoon forms between island and reef

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS---FORMATION

Step #3---ATOLL Volcanic island sinks completely under water A ring shaped reef remains

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—Facts

1. Australia’s GREAT BARRIER REEF

world’s largest reef system—1,616 miles

began forming nearly 500, 000 years ago!

The Neritic Zone Habitats CORAL REEFS—U.S. History

2. BIKINI ATOLL in the Pacific Ocean Used for testing nuclear bombs during the Cold War,

also known as the Red Scare http://www.bikiniatoll.com/

The Neritic Zone Habitats KELP FORESTS

1. What is kelp? A form of algae in the Neritic Zone Requires cold water and a rocky

ocean floor

2. What does it look like? Large—kelp stalks can reach a

length of 30 meters! Has roots called holdfasts that

attach to rocks Has airbladders to help it “stand

up” in the water

The Neritic Zone Habitats KELP FORESTS

3. Why is the kelp forest important? It is a safe home and provides food to many animals.

4. Why are sea otters so important to the kelp forest? Sea otters eat sea urchins and keep them from

destroying the habitat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYpM-qDNKzs