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Pelagic zone - Wikipedia
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## Contents

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- (Top)

- [1Depth and layers](#Depth_and_layers)Toggle Depth and layers subsection  - [1.1Epipelagic (sunlight)](#Epipelagic_(sunlight))
  - [1.2Mesopelagic (twilight)](#Mesopelagic_(twilight))
  - [1.3Bathypelagic (midnight)](#Bathypelagic_(midnight))
  - [1.4Abyssopelagic (abyssal zone)](#Abyssopelagic_(abyssal_zone))
  - [1.5Hadopelagic (hadal zone)](#Hadopelagic_(hadal_zone))
- [2Pelagic ecosystem](#Pelagic_ecosystem)Toggle Pelagic ecosystem subsection  - [2.1Pelagic invertebrates](#Pelagic_invertebrates)
  - [2.2Pelagic fish](#Pelagic_fish)
  - [2.3Pelagic reptiles](#Pelagic_reptiles)
  - [2.4Pelagic birds](#Pelagic_birds)
- [3References](#References)
- [4Further reading](#Further_reading)

Toggle the table of contents

# Pelagic zone

55 languages

- [Afrikaans](https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagiese_sone "Pelagiese sone – Afrikaans")
- [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%82%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AD "منطقة البحر المفتوح – Arabic")
- [Aragonés](https://an.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagos "Pelagos – Aragonese")
- [Беларуская](https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0 "Пелагічная зона – Belarusian")
- [Беларуская (тарашкевіца)](https://be-tarask.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%8D%D0%BB%D1%8F%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%8F%D0%BB%D1%8C "Пэлягіяль – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)")
- [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0 "Пелагична зона – Bulgarian")
- [Bosanski](https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagijska_zona "Pelagijska zona – Bosnian")
- [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zona_pel%C3%A0gica "Zona pelàgica – Catalan")
- [Чӑвашла](https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C "Пелагиаль – Chuvash")
- [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagi%C3%A1l "Pelagiál – Czech")
- [Dansk](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagiske_zone "Pelagiske zone – Danish")
- [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagial "Pelagial – German")
- [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagiaal "Pelagiaal – Estonian")
- [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%98%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%B1_%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%84%CF%89%CF%83%CE%B7 "Θαλάσσια διαστρωμάτωση – Greek")
- [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi%C3%A9lago "Piélago – Spanish")
- [Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelaga_zono "Pelaga zono – Esperanto")
- [Euskara](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zona_pelagiko "Zona pelagiko – Basque")
- [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AD%DB%8C%D9%87_%D8%AF%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C "ناحیه دریامیانی – Persian")
- [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_p%C3%A9lagique "Zone pélagique – French")
- [Gaeilge](https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crios_peiligeach "Crios peiligeach – Irish")
- [Gàidhlig](https://gd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairge "Fairge – Scottish Gaelic")
- [Galego](https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pel%C3%A1xico "Peláxico – Galician")
- [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%95%B4%EC%88%98%EB%8C%80 "해수대 – Korean")
- [हिन्दी](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0 "पेलैजिक क्षेत्र – Hindi")
- [Hrvatski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagijska_zona "Pelagijska zona – Croatian")
- [Ido](https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagika_zono "Pelagika zono – Ido")
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zona_pelagik "Zona pelagik – Indonesian")
- [Íslenska](https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Athafssv%C3%A6%C3%B0i "Úthafssvæði – Icelandic")
- [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominio_pelagico "Dominio pelagico – Italian")
- [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%94%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%94%D7%A4%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%97 "הים הפתוח – Hebrew")
- [ქართული](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%9E%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%92%E1%83%98%E1%83%90%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98 "პელაგიალი – Georgian")
- [Қазақша](https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C "Пелагиаль – Kazakh")
- [Кыргызча](https://ky.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C "Пелагиаль – Kyrgyz")
- [Latviešu](https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pela%C4%A3i%C4%81le "Pelaģiāle – Latvian")
- [Lietuvių](https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagial%C4%97 "Pelagialė – Lithuanian")
- [Македонски](https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0 "Пелагиска зона – Macedonian")
- [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagische_zone "Pelagische zone – Dutch")
- [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%BC%82%E6%B3%B3%E5%8C%BA%E5%88%86%E5%B8%AF "漂泳区分帯 – Japanese")
- [Norsk bokmål](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagisk "Pelagisk – Norwegian Bokmål")
- [Norsk nynorsk](https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagisk_sone "Pelagisk sone – Norwegian Nynorsk")
- [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagial "Pelagial – Uzbek")
- [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagial "Pelagial – Polish")
- [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zona_pel%C3%A1gica "Zona pelágica – Portuguese")
- [Română](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zon%C4%83_pelagic%C4%83 "Zonă pelagică – Romanian")
- [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C "Пелагиаль – Russian")
- [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagic_zone "Pelagic zone – Simple English")
- [Slovenčina](https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagi%C3%A1l "Pelagiál – Slovak")
- [Slovenščina](https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagi%C4%8Dno_obmo%C4%8Dje "Pelagično območje – Slovenian")
- [Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски](https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagijal "Pelagijal – Serbo-Croatian")
- [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelaginen_vy%C3%B6hyke "Pelaginen vyöhyke – Finnish")
- [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagial "Pelagial – Swedish")
- [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelajik_b%C3%B6lge "Pelajik bölge – Turkish")
- [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B3%D1%96%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C "Пелагіаль – Ukrainian")
- [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%81%A0%E6%B4%8B%E5%B8%B6 "遠洋帶 – Cantonese")
- [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%81%A0%E6%B4%8B%E5%B8%B6 "遠洋帶 – Chinese")

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unobstructed water in the body of the sea that is neither close to the surface nor to the sea floor

"Pelagic" and "Open sea" redirect here. For the writer, see [Vasa Pelagić](/wiki/Vasa_Pelagi%C4%87 "Vasa Pelagić"). For the marketplace, see [OpenSea](/wiki/OpenSea "OpenSea"). For ocean not controlled by any sovereign territory, also called the "high seas", see [International waters](/wiki/International_waters "International waters").

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Pelagiczone.svg/220px-Pelagiczone.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Pelagiczone.svg)

Layers of the pelagic zone (scaled)

[Marine habitats](/wiki/Marine_habitat "Marine habitat")[Coastal habitats](/wiki/Marine_coastal_ecosystem "Marine coastal ecosystem")

- [Littoral zone](/wiki/Littoral_zone "Littoral zone")
- [Intertidal zone](/wiki/Intertidal_zone "Intertidal zone")
- [Estuaries](/wiki/Estuary "Estuary")
- [Mangrove forests](/wiki/Mangrove_forest "Mangrove forest")
- [Seagrass meadows](/wiki/Seagrass_meadow "Seagrass meadow")
- [Kelp forests](/wiki/Kelp_forest "Kelp forest")
- [Coral reefs](/wiki/Coral_reef "Coral reef")
- [Continental shelf](/wiki/Continental_shelf "Continental shelf")
- [Neritic zone](/wiki/Neritic_zone "Neritic zone")

[Ocean surface](/wiki/Ocean_surface_ecosystem "Ocean surface ecosystem")

- [Surface microlayer](/wiki/Sea_surface_microlayer "Sea surface microlayer")
- [Epipelagic zone](/wiki/Epipelagic_zone "Epipelagic zone")

Open ocean

- Pelagic zone
- [Oceanic zone](/wiki/Oceanic_zone "Oceanic zone")

[Sea floor](/wiki/Seabed "Seabed")

- [Seamounts](/wiki/Seamount "Seamount")
- [Hydrothermal vents](/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent "Hydrothermal vent")
- [Cold seeps](/wiki/Cold_seep "Cold seep")
- [Demersal zone](/wiki/Demersal_zone "Demersal zone")
- [Benthic zone](/wiki/Benthic_zone "Benthic zone")
- [Marine sediment](/wiki/Marine_sediment "Marine sediment")

- [v](/wiki/Template:Ocean_habitat_topics "Template:Ocean habitat topics")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Ocean_habitat_topics "Template talk:Ocean habitat topics")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Ocean_habitat_topics "Special:EditPage/Template:Ocean habitat topics")

The **pelagic zone** consists of the [water column](/wiki/Water_column "Water column") of the **open ocean** and can be further divided into regions by depth. The word _pelagic_ is derived from [Ancient Greek](/wiki/Ancient_Greek_language "Ancient Greek language") [πέλαγος](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%80%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%82#Ancient_Greek "wikt:πέλαγος") _(_pélagos_)_ 'open sea'.[\[1\]](#cite_note-1) The pelagic zone can be thought of as an imaginary cylinder or water column between the surface of the sea and the bottom. Conditions in the water column change with depth: pressure increases; temperature and light decrease; salinity, oxygen, micronutrients (such as iron, magnesium and calcium) all change. In a manner analogous to [stratification in the Earth's atmosphere](/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Earth#Stratification "Atmosphere of Earth"), the water column can be divided vertically into up to five different layers (illustrated in the diagram), with the number of layers depending on the depth of the water.

[Marine life](/wiki/Marine_life "Marine life") is affected by [bathymetry](/wiki/Bathymetry "Bathymetry") (underwater topography) such as the seafloor, shoreline, or a submarine [seamount](/wiki/Seamount "Seamount"), as well as by proximity to the boundary between the ocean and the atmosphere at the ocean surface, which brings light for photosynthesis, predation from above, and wind stirring up waves and setting currents in motion. The pelagic zone refers to the open, free waters away from the shore, where marine life can swim freely in any direction unhindered by [topographical](/wiki/Topographical "Topographical") constraints.

The [oceanic zone](/wiki/Oceanic_zone "Oceanic zone") is the deep open ocean beyond the [continental shelf](/wiki/Continental_shelf "Continental shelf"), which contrasts with the inshore waters near the [coast](/wiki/Coast "Coast"), such as in [estuaries](/wiki/Estuaries "Estuaries") or on the continental shelf. Waters in the oceanic zone plunge to the depths of the [abyssopelagic](/wiki/Abyssopelagic "Abyssopelagic") and further to the [hadopelagic](/wiki/Hadopelagic "Hadopelagic"). Coastal waters are generally the relatively shallow epipelagic. Altogether, the pelagic zone occupies 1,330 million km3 (320 million mi3) with a mean depth of 3.68 km (2.29 mi) and maximum depth of 11 km (6.8 mi).[\[2\]](#cite_note-2)[\[3\]](#cite_note-3)[\[4\]](#cite_note-4) Pelagic life decreases as depth increases.

The pelagic zone contrasts with the [benthic](/wiki/Benthic_zone "Benthic zone") and [demersal](/wiki/Demersal_zone "Demersal zone") zones at the bottom of the sea. The benthic zone is the ecological region at the very bottom, including the sediment surface and some subsurface layers. Marine organisms such as [clams](/wiki/Clam "Clam") and [crabs](/wiki/Crab "Crab") living in this zone are called [benthos](/wiki/Benthos "Benthos"). Just above the benthic zone is the demersal zone. [Demersal fish](/wiki/Demersal_fish "Demersal fish") can be divided into [benthic fish](/wiki/Demersal_fish#Benthic_fish "Demersal fish"), which are denser than water and rest on the bottom, and [benthopelagic fish](/wiki/Demersal_fish#Benthopelagic_fish "Demersal fish"), which swim just above the bottom. Demersal fish are also known as [bottom feeders](/wiki/Bottom_feeder "Bottom feeder") and [groundfish](/wiki/Groundfish "Groundfish").

## Depth and layers

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Depth and layers")\]

The pelagic zone is subdivided into five vertical regions. From the top down, these are:

### Epipelagic (sunlight)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Epipelagic (sunlight)")\]

See also: [Photic zone](/wiki/Photic_zone "Photic zone") and [Epipelagic fish](/wiki/Epipelagic_fish "Epipelagic fish")

From the surface ( [MSL](/wiki/Sea_level "Sea level")) down to around 200 m (660 ft)

The illuminated zone at the surface of the sea with sufficient light for photosynthesis. Nearly all [primary production](/wiki/Primary_production "Primary production") in the ocean occurs here, and marine life is concentrated in this zone, including [plankton](/wiki/Plankton "Plankton"), [floating seaweed](/wiki/Sargassum "Sargassum"), [jellyfish](/wiki/Jellyfish "Jellyfish"), [tuna](/wiki/Tuna "Tuna"), many [sharks](/wiki/Shark "Shark") and [dolphins](/wiki/Dolphin "Dolphin").\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

### Mesopelagic (twilight)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Mesopelagic (twilight)")\]

See also: [Mesopelagic zone](/wiki/Mesopelagic_zone "Mesopelagic zone") and [Pelagic fish § Mesopelagic fish](/wiki/Pelagic_fish#Mesopelagic_fish "Pelagic fish")

From 200 m (660 ft) down to around 1,000 m (3,300 ft)

The most abundant organisms thriving into the mesopelagic zone are [heterotrophic](/wiki/Heterotrophic "Heterotrophic") bacteria.[\[5\]](#cite_note-5) Animals living in this zone include [swordfish](/wiki/Swordfish "Swordfish"), [squid](/wiki/Squid "Squid"), [wolffish](/wiki/Anarhichadidae "Anarhichadidae") and some species of [cuttlefish](/wiki/Cuttlefish "Cuttlefish"). Many organisms living here are [bioluminescent](/wiki/Bioluminescence "Bioluminescence").[\[6\]](#cite_note-marinebio.com-6) Some mesopelagic creatures rise to the epipelagic zone at night to feed.[\[6\]](#cite_note-marinebio.com-6)

### Bathypelagic (midnight)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Bathypelagic (midnight)")\]

See also: [Bathyal zone](/wiki/Bathyal_zone "Bathyal zone") and [Pelagic fish § Bathypelagic fish](/wiki/Pelagic_fish#Bathypelagic_fish "Pelagic fish")

From 1,000 m (3,300 ft) down to around 4,000 m (13,000 ft)

The name stems from [Ancient Greek](/wiki/Ancient_Greek_language "Ancient Greek language") _[βαθύς](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%B1%CE%B8%CF%8D%CF%82 "wikt:βαθύς")_ 'deep'. The ocean is pitch black at this depth apart from occasional [bioluminescent](/wiki/Bioluminescence "Bioluminescence") organisms, such as [anglerfish](/wiki/Anglerfish "Anglerfish"). No plants live here. Most animals survive on [detritus](/wiki/Detritus "Detritus") known as " [marine snow](/wiki/Marine_snow "Marine snow")" falling from the zones above or, like the [marine hatchetfish](/wiki/Marine_hatchetfish "Marine hatchetfish"), by preying on other inhabitants of this zone. Other examples of this zone's inhabitants are [giant squid](/wiki/Giant_squid "Giant squid"), smaller [squid](/wiki/Squid "Squid") and the [grimpoteuthis](/wiki/Grimpoteuthis "Grimpoteuthis") or "dumbo octopus". The giant squid is hunted here by deep-diving [sperm whales](/wiki/Sperm_whale "Sperm whale").\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

### Abyssopelagic (abyssal zone)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Abyssopelagic (abyssal zone)")\]

Main article: [Abyssal zone](/wiki/Abyssal_zone "Abyssal zone")

From around 4,000 m (13,000 ft) down to above the [ocean floor](/wiki/Ocean_floor "Ocean floor")

The name is derived from [Ancient Greek](/wiki/Ancient_Greek_language "Ancient Greek language") _[ἄβυσσος](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E1%BC%84%CE%B2%CF%85%CF%83%CF%83%CE%BF%CF%82 "wikt:ἄβυσσος")_ 'bottomless' - a holdover from times when the deep ocean was believed to indeed be bottomless. Among the very few creatures living in the cold temperatures, high pressures and complete darkness here are several species of squid; [echinoderms](/wiki/Echinoderm "Echinoderm") including the [basket star](/wiki/Basket_star "Basket star"), swimming cucumber, and the [sea pig](/wiki/Scotoplanes "Scotoplanes"); and marine arthropods including the [sea spider](/wiki/Sea_spider "Sea spider"). Many species at these depths are transparent and eyeless.[\[6\]](#cite_note-marinebio.com-6)

### Hadopelagic (hadal zone)

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Hadopelagic (hadal zone)")\]

Main article: [Hadal zone](/wiki/Hadal_zone "Hadal zone")

The name is derived from the realm of [Hades](/wiki/Hades "Hades"), the [Greek underworld](/wiki/Greek_underworld "Greek underworld"). This is the deepest part of the ocean at more than 6,000 m (20,000 ft) or 6,500 m (21,300 ft), depending on authority. Such depths are generally located in [trenches](/wiki/Ocean_trench "Ocean trench").\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

## Pelagic ecosystem

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Pelagic ecosystem")\]

The pelagic ecosystem is based on [phytoplankton](/wiki/Phytoplankton "Phytoplankton"). Phytoplankton manufacture their own food using a process of [photosynthesis](/wiki/Photosynthesis "Photosynthesis"). Because they need sunlight, they inhabit the upper, sunlit epipelagic zone, which includes the coastal or [neritic zone](/wiki/Neritic_zone "Neritic zone"). Biodiversity diminishes markedly in the deeper zones below the epipelagic zone as dissolved oxygen diminishes, water pressure increases, temperatures become colder, food sources become scarce, and light diminishes and finally disappears.[\[7\]](#cite_note-7)

### Pelagic invertebrates

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Pelagic invertebrates")\]

Some examples of pelagic invertebrates include [krill](/wiki/Krill "Krill"), [copepods](/wiki/Copepod "Copepod"), [jellyfish](/wiki/Jellyfish "Jellyfish"), [decapod](/wiki/Decapodiformes "Decapodiformes") [larvae](/wiki/Larvae "Larvae"), [hyperiid](/wiki/Hyperiid "Hyperiid") [amphipods](/wiki/Amphipod "Amphipod"), [rotifers](/wiki/Rotifer "Rotifer") and [cladocerans](/wiki/Cladocera "Cladocera").

[Thorson's rule](/wiki/Thorson%27s_rule "Thorson's rule") states that [benthic](/wiki/Benthic "Benthic") [marine invertebrates](/wiki/Marine_invertebrates "Marine invertebrates") at low latitudes tend to produce large numbers of eggs developing to widely dispersing pelagic larvae, whereas at high latitudes such organisms tend to produce fewer and larger [lecithotrophic](/wiki/Lecithotrophic "Lecithotrophic") (yolk-feeding) eggs and larger offspring.[\[8\]](#cite_note-Thorson-8)[\[9\]](#cite_note-Mileikovsky-9)

### Pelagic fish

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Pelagic fish")\]

Main article: [Pelagic fish](/wiki/Pelagic_fish "Pelagic fish")

**Pelagic fish** live in the [water column](/wiki/Water_column "Water column") of coastal, ocean, and lake waters, but not on or near the bottom of the sea or the lake. They can be contrasted with demersal fish, which do live on or near the bottom, and [coral reef fish](/wiki/Coral_reef_fish "Coral reef fish").[\[10\]](#cite_note-Lal8-10)

Pelagic fish are often [migratory](/wiki/Fish_migration "Fish migration") [forage fish](/wiki/Forage_fish "Forage fish"), which feed on [plankton](/wiki/Plankton "Plankton"), and the larger [predatory fish](/wiki/Predatory_fish "Predatory fish") that follow and feed on the forage fish. Examples of migratory forage fish are [herring](/wiki/Herring "Herring"), [anchovies](/wiki/Anchovy "Anchovy"), [capelin](/wiki/Capelin "Capelin"), and [menhaden](/wiki/Menhaden "Menhaden"). Examples of larger pelagic fish which [prey](/wiki/Predation "Predation") on the forage fish are [billfish](/wiki/Billfish "Billfish"), [tuna](/wiki/Tuna "Tuna"), and oceanic [sharks](/wiki/Shark "Shark").\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

### Pelagic reptiles

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Pelagic reptiles")\]

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Diomedea_exulans_in_flight_-_SE_Tasmania.jpg/220px-Diomedea_exulans_in_flight_-_SE_Tasmania.jpg)](/wiki/File:Diomedea_exulans_in_flight_-_SE_Tasmania.jpg) The pelagic [wandering albatross](/wiki/Wandering_albatross "Wandering albatross") ( _Diomedea exulans_) ranges over huge areas of ocean and can circle the globe.

_[Hydrophis platurus](/wiki/Yellow-bellied_sea_snake "Yellow-bellied sea snake")_, the yellow-bellied sea snake, is the only one of the 65 species of [marine snakes](/wiki/Hydrophiinae "Hydrophiinae") to spend its entire life in the pelagic zone. It bears live young at sea and is helpless on land. The species sometimes forms aggregations of thousands along slicks in surface waters. The yellow-bellied sea snake is the world's most widely distributed snake species.\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

Many species of [sea turtles](/wiki/Sea_turtle "Sea turtle") spend the first years of their lives in the pelagic zone, moving closer to shore as they reach maturity.\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

### Pelagic birds

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Pelagic birds")\]

See also: [Seabird](/wiki/Seabird "Seabird")

**Pelagic birds**, also called _oceanic birds_ or [seabirds](/wiki/Seabird "Seabird"), live on open seas and oceans rather than inland or around more restricted waters such as rivers and lakes. Pelagic birds feed on planktonic [crustaceans](/wiki/Crustacean "Crustacean"), [squid](/wiki/Squid "Squid") and [forage fish](/wiki/Forage_fish "Forage fish"). Examples are the [Atlantic puffin](/wiki/Atlantic_puffin "Atlantic puffin"), [macaroni penguins](/wiki/Macaroni_penguin "Macaroni penguin"), [sooty terns](/wiki/Sooty_tern "Sooty tern"), [shearwaters](/wiki/Shearwater "Shearwater"), and [Procellariiformes](/wiki/Procellariiformes "Procellariiformes") such as the [albatross](/wiki/Albatross "Albatross"), [Procellariidae](/wiki/Procellariidae "Procellariidae") and [petrels](/wiki/Petrel "Petrel").\[ _[citation needed](/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")_\]

Aquatic layersPelagic[Photic](/wiki/Photic_zone "Photic zone") Epipelagic[Aphotic](/wiki/Aphotic_zone "Aphotic zone")[Mesopelagic](/wiki/Mesopelagic_zone "Mesopelagic zone")[Bathypelagic](/wiki/Bathypelagic_zone "Bathypelagic zone")[Abyssopelagic](/wiki/Abyssal_zone "Abyssal zone")[Hadopelagic](/wiki/Hadal_zone "Hadal zone")[Demersal](/wiki/Demersal_zone "Demersal zone")[Benthic](/wiki/Benthic_zone "Benthic zone")[Stratification](/wiki/Stratification_(water) "Stratification (water)")[Pycnocline](/wiki/Pycnocline "Pycnocline")[Isopycnal](/wiki/Isopycnal "Isopycnal")[Chemocline](/wiki/Chemocline "Chemocline")[Nutricline](/wiki/Nutricline "Nutricline")[Halocline](/wiki/Halocline "Halocline")[Thermocline](/wiki/Thermocline "Thermocline")[Thermohaline](/wiki/Thermohaline_circulation "Thermohaline circulation")
See also

- [Marine habitats](/wiki/Marine_habitat "Marine habitat")
- [Lake stratification](/wiki/Lake_stratification "Lake stratification")
- [Ocean stratification](/wiki/Ocean_stratification "Ocean stratification")
- [Aquatic ecosystems](/wiki/Aquatic_ecosystem "Aquatic ecosystem")
- [Wild fisheries](/wiki/Wild_fisheries "Wild fisheries")

- [v](/wiki/Template:Aquatic_layer_topics "Template:Aquatic layer topics")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Aquatic_layer_topics "Template talk:Aquatic layer topics")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Aquatic_layer_topics "Special:EditPage/Template:Aquatic layer topics")

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Representative_ocean_animal_life.jpg/440px-Representative_ocean_animal_life.jpg)](/wiki/File:Representative_ocean_animal_life.jpg) Some representative ocean animals (not drawn to scale) within their approximate depth-defined ecological habitats. [Marine microorganisms](/wiki/Marine_microorganisms "Marine microorganisms") also exist on the surfaces and within the tissues and organs of the diverse life inhabiting the ocean, across all ocean habitats. The animals rooted to or living on the ocean floor are not pelagic but are [benthic](/wiki/Benthic "Benthic") animals.[\[11\]](#cite_note-Apprill2017-11)

## References

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: References")\]

01. **[^](#cite_ref-1)**["pelagic (adj.)"](https://www.etymonline.com/word/pelagic). _[Online Etymology Dictionary](/wiki/Online_Etymology_Dictionary "Online Etymology Dictionary")_. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
02. **[^](#cite_ref-2)**Costello, Mark John; Cheung, Alan; De Hauwere, Nathalie (2010). "Surface Area and the Seabed Area, Volume, Depth, Slope, and Topographic Variation for the World's Seas, Oceans, and Countries". _Environmental Science & Technology_. **44** (23): 8821–8. [Bibcode](/wiki/Bibcode_(identifier) "Bibcode (identifier)"): [2010EnST...44.8821C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010EnST...44.8821C). [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"): [10.1021/es1012752](https://doi.org/10.1021%2Fes1012752). [PMID](/wiki/PMID_(identifier) "PMID (identifier)") [21033734](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21033734).
03. **[^](#cite_ref-3)**Charette, Matthew; Smith, Walter (2010). ["The Volume of Earth's Ocean"](https://doi.org/10.5670%2Foceanog.2010.51). _Oceanography_. **23** (2): 112–4. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.5670/oceanog.2010.51](https://doi.org/10.5670%2Foceanog.2010.51). [hdl](/wiki/Hdl_(identifier) "Hdl (identifier)"):[1912/3862](https://hdl.handle.net/1912%2F3862).
04. **[^](#cite_ref-4)**[Ocean's Depth and Volume Revealed](http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/oceans-depth-and-volume-revealed-0206/#) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110823051211/http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/oceans-depth-and-volume-revealed-0206/) 23 August 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine") _OurAmazingPlanet_, 19 May 2010.
05. **[^](#cite_ref-5)**Mazuecos, E.; Arístegui, J.; Vázquez-Domínguez, E.; Ortega-Retuerta, E.; Gasol, J.M.; Reche, I. (2012). ["Temperature control of microbial respiration and growth efficiency in the mesopelagic zone of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans"](https://doi.org/10.3354%2Fame01583). _Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers_. **95**: 131–138. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.3354/ame01583](https://doi.org/10.3354%2Fame01583). [hdl](/wiki/Hdl_(identifier) "Hdl (identifier)"):[10261/95626](https://hdl.handle.net/10261%2F95626).
06. ^ [_**a**_](#cite_ref-marinebio.com_6-0) [_**b**_](#cite_ref-marinebio.com_6-1) [_**c**_](#cite_ref-marinebio.com_6-2)[The Open Ocean - MarineBio.org](https://web.archive.org/web/20100410222157/http://www.marinebio.com/Oceans/open-ocean.asp)
07. **[^](#cite_ref-7)**Walker P and Wood E (2005) [_The Open Ocean_](https://books.google.com/books?id=O0GpAZsmrVAC&q=intitle:The+intitle:Open+intitle:Ocean) (volume in a series called _Life in the sea_), Infobase Publishing, [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-8160-5705-4](/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8160-5705-4 "Special:BookSources/978-0-8160-5705-4").
08. **[^](#cite_ref-Thorson_8-0)**Thorson, G (1957). "Bottom communities (sublittoral or shallow shelf)". In Hedgpeth, J.W. (ed.). _Treatise on Marine Ecology and Palaeoecology_. Geological Society of America. pp. 461–534.
09. **[^](#cite_ref-Mileikovsky_9-0)**Mileikovsky, S. A. (1971). "Types of larval development in marine bottom invertebrates, their distribution and ecological significance: a re-evaluation". _Marine Biology_. **10** (3): 193–213. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"): [10.1007/BF00352809](https://doi.org/10.1007%2FBF00352809). [S2CID](/wiki/S2CID_(identifier) "S2CID (identifier)") [84623588](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:84623588).
10. **[^](#cite_ref-Lal8_10-0)**[Lal, Brij V.](/wiki/Brij_Lal_(historian) "Brij Lal (historian)"); Fortune, Kate (January 2000). [_The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia_](https://books.google.com/books?id=T5pPpJl8E5wC&pg=PA8). University of Hawaii Press. p. 8. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-8248-2265-1](/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8248-2265-1 "Special:BookSources/978-0-8248-2265-1").
11. **[^](#cite_ref-Apprill2017_11-0)**Apprill, A. (2017)"Marine animal microbiomes: toward understanding host–microbiome interactions in a changing ocean". _Frontiers in Marine Science_, **4**: 222\. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"): [10.3389/fmars.2017.00222](https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffmars.2017.00222). [![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CC_BY_icon.svg/50px-CC_BY_icon.svg.png)](/wiki/File:CC_BY_icon.svg) Material was copied from this source, which is available under a [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Further reading

\[ [edit](/w/index.php?title=Pelagic_zone&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Further reading")\]

- Ryan, Paddy ["Deep-sea creatures"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080619124248/http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/SeaLife/DeepSeaCreatures/en) _Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand_, updated 21 September 2007
- ["Pelagic-zone (oceanography)"](https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/449062/pelagic-zone) Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 21 March 2009.
- Grantham HS, Game ET, Lombard AT, et al. (2011) ["Accommodating Dynamic Oceanographic Processes and Pelagic Biodiversity in Marine Conservation Planning"](http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016552) _[PLOS One](/wiki/PLOS_One "PLOS One")_ **6**(2): e16552. [doi](/wiki/Doi_(identifier) "Doi (identifier)"): [10.1371/journal.pone.0016552](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0016552).
- Wrobel, David; Mills, Claudia (2003) \[1998\]. [_Pacific Coast Pelagic Invertebrates: A Guide to the Common Gelatinous Animals_](https://archive.org/details/pacificcoastpela00wrob). Sea Challengers and Monterey Bay Aquarium. [ISBN](/wiki/ISBN_(identifier) "ISBN (identifier)") [0-930118-23-5](/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-930118-23-5 "Special:BookSources/0-930118-23-5").

- [v](/wiki/Template:Physical_oceanography "Template:Physical oceanography")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Physical_oceanography "Template talk:Physical oceanography")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Physical_oceanography "Special:EditPage/Template:Physical oceanography")

[Physical oceanography](/wiki/Physical_oceanography "Physical oceanography")

[Waves](/wiki/Wind_wave "Wind wave")

- [Airy wave theory](/wiki/Airy_wave_theory "Airy wave theory")
- [Ballantine scale](/wiki/Ballantine_scale "Ballantine scale")
- [Benjamin–Feir instability](/wiki/Modulational_instability "Modulational instability")
- [Boussinesq approximation](/wiki/Boussinesq_approximation_(water_waves) "Boussinesq approximation (water waves)")
- [Breaking wave](/wiki/Breaking_wave "Breaking wave")
- [Clapotis](/wiki/Clapotis "Clapotis")
- [Cnoidal wave](/wiki/Cnoidal_wave "Cnoidal wave")
- [Cross sea](/wiki/Cross_sea "Cross sea")
- [Dispersion](/wiki/Dispersion_(water_waves) "Dispersion (water waves)")
- [Edge wave](/wiki/Edge_wave "Edge wave")
- [Equatorial waves](/wiki/Equatorial_wave "Equatorial wave")
- [Fetch](/wiki/Fetch_(geography) "Fetch (geography)")
- [Gravity wave](/wiki/Gravity_wave "Gravity wave")
- [Green's law](/wiki/Green%27s_law "Green's law")
- [Infragravity wave](/wiki/Infragravity_wave "Infragravity wave")
- [Internal wave](/wiki/Internal_wave "Internal wave")
- [Iribarren number](/wiki/Iribarren_number "Iribarren number")
- [Kelvin wave](/wiki/Kelvin_wave "Kelvin wave")
- [Kinematic wave](/wiki/Kinematic_wave "Kinematic wave")
- [Longshore drift](/wiki/Longshore_drift "Longshore drift")
- [Luke's variational principle](/wiki/Luke%27s_variational_principle "Luke's variational principle")
- [Mild-slope equation](/wiki/Mild-slope_equation "Mild-slope equation")
- [Radiation stress](/wiki/Radiation_stress "Radiation stress")
- [Rogue wave](/wiki/Rogue_wave "Rogue wave")
- [Rossby wave](/wiki/Rossby_wave "Rossby wave")
- [Rossby-gravity waves](/wiki/Rossby-gravity_waves "Rossby-gravity waves")
- [Sea state](/wiki/Sea_state "Sea state")
- [Seiche](/wiki/Seiche "Seiche")
- [Significant wave height](/wiki/Significant_wave_height "Significant wave height")
- [Soliton](/wiki/Soliton "Soliton")
- [Stokes boundary layer](/wiki/Stokes_boundary_layer "Stokes boundary layer")
- [Stokes drift](/wiki/Stokes_drift "Stokes drift")
- [Stokes wave](/wiki/Stokes_wave "Stokes wave")
- [Swell](/wiki/Swell_(ocean) "Swell (ocean)")
- [Trochoidal wave](/wiki/Trochoidal_wave "Trochoidal wave")
- [Tsunami](/wiki/Tsunami "Tsunami")
  - [megatsunami](/wiki/Megatsunami "Megatsunami")
- [Undertow](/wiki/Undertow_(water_waves) "Undertow (water waves)")
- [Ursell number](/wiki/Ursell_number "Ursell number")
- [Wave action](/wiki/Wave_action_(continuum_mechanics) "Wave action (continuum mechanics)")
- [Wave base](/wiki/Wave_base "Wave base")
- [Wave height](/wiki/Wave_height "Wave height")
- [Wave nonlinearity](/wiki/Wave_nonlinearity "Wave nonlinearity")
- [Wave power](/wiki/Wave_power "Wave power")
- [Wave radar](/wiki/Wave_radar "Wave radar")
- [Wave setup](/wiki/Wave_setup "Wave setup")
- [Wave shoaling](/wiki/Wave_shoaling "Wave shoaling")
- [Wave turbulence](/wiki/Wave_turbulence "Wave turbulence")
- [Wave–current interaction](/wiki/Wave%E2%80%93current_interaction "Wave–current interaction")
- [Waves and shallow water](/wiki/Waves_and_shallow_water "Waves and shallow water")
  - [one-dimensional Saint-Venant equations](/wiki/One-dimensional_Saint-Venant_equations "One-dimensional Saint-Venant equations")
  - [shallow water equations](/wiki/Shallow_water_equations "Shallow water equations")
- [Wind setup](/wiki/Wind_setup "Wind setup")
- [Wind wave](/wiki/Wind_wave "Wind wave")
  - [model](/wiki/Wind_wave_model "Wind wave model")

[![Upwelling](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Upwelling.svg/120px-Upwelling.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Upwelling.svg "Upwelling")

[![Antarctic bottom water](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Antarctic_bottom_water.svg/120px-Antarctic_bottom_water.svg.png)](/wiki/File:Antarctic_bottom_water.svg "Antarctic bottom water")

[Circulation](/wiki/Ocean_current "Ocean current")

- [Atmospheric circulation](/wiki/Atmospheric_circulation "Atmospheric circulation")
- [Baroclinity](/wiki/Baroclinity "Baroclinity")
- [Boundary current](/wiki/Boundary_current "Boundary current")
- [Coriolis force](/wiki/Coriolis_force "Coriolis force")
- [Coriolis–Stokes force](/wiki/Coriolis%E2%80%93Stokes_force "Coriolis–Stokes force")
- [Craik–Leibovich vortex force](/wiki/Craik%E2%80%93Leibovich_vortex_force "Craik–Leibovich vortex force")
- [Downwelling](/wiki/Downwelling "Downwelling")
- [Eddy](/wiki/Eddy_(fluid_dynamics) "Eddy (fluid dynamics)")
- [Ekman layer](/wiki/Ekman_layer "Ekman layer")
- [Ekman spiral](/wiki/Ekman_spiral "Ekman spiral")
- [Ekman transport](/wiki/Ekman_transport "Ekman transport")
- [El Niño–Southern Oscillation](/wiki/El_Ni%C3%B1o%E2%80%93Southern_Oscillation "El Niño–Southern Oscillation")
- [General circulation model](/wiki/General_circulation_model "General circulation model")
- [Geochemical Ocean Sections Study](/wiki/Geochemical_Ocean_Sections_Study "Geochemical Ocean Sections Study")
- [Geostrophic current](/wiki/Geostrophic_current "Geostrophic current")
- [Global Ocean Data Analysis Project](/wiki/Global_Ocean_Data_Analysis_Project "Global Ocean Data Analysis Project")
- [Gulf Stream](/wiki/Gulf_Stream "Gulf Stream")
- [Halothermal circulation](/wiki/Halothermal_circulation "Halothermal circulation")
- [Humboldt Current](/wiki/Humboldt_Current "Humboldt Current")
- [Hydrothermal circulation](/wiki/Hydrothermal_circulation "Hydrothermal circulation")
- [Langmuir circulation](/wiki/Langmuir_circulation "Langmuir circulation")
- [Longshore drift](/wiki/Longshore_drift "Longshore drift")
- [Loop Current](/wiki/Loop_Current "Loop Current")
- [Modular Ocean Model](/wiki/Modular_Ocean_Model "Modular Ocean Model")
- [Ocean current](/wiki/Ocean_current "Ocean current")
- [Ocean dynamics](/wiki/Ocean_dynamics "Ocean dynamics")
- [Ocean dynamical thermostat](/wiki/Ocean_dynamical_thermostat "Ocean dynamical thermostat")
- [Ocean gyre](/wiki/Ocean_gyre "Ocean gyre")
- [Overflow](/wiki/Overflow_(oceanography) "Overflow (oceanography)")
- [Princeton ocean model](/wiki/Princeton_ocean_model "Princeton ocean model")
- [Rip current](/wiki/Rip_current "Rip current")
- [Subsurface currents](/wiki/Subsurface_currents "Subsurface currents")
- [Sverdrup balance](/wiki/Sverdrup_balance "Sverdrup balance")
- [Thermohaline circulation](/wiki/Thermohaline_circulation "Thermohaline circulation")
  - [shutdown](/wiki/Shutdown_of_thermohaline_circulation "Shutdown of thermohaline circulation")
- [Upwelling](/wiki/Upwelling "Upwelling")
- [Wind generated current](/wiki/Wind_generated_current "Wind generated current")
- [Whirlpool](/wiki/Whirlpool "Whirlpool")
- [World Ocean Circulation Experiment](/wiki/World_Ocean_Circulation_Experiment "World Ocean Circulation Experiment")

[Tides](/wiki/Tide "Tide")

- [Amphidromic point](/wiki/Amphidromic_point "Amphidromic point")
- [Earth tide](/wiki/Earth_tide "Earth tide")
- [Head of tide](/wiki/Head_of_tide "Head of tide")
- [Internal tide](/wiki/Internal_tide "Internal tide")
- [Lunitidal interval](/wiki/Lunitidal_interval "Lunitidal interval")
- [Perigean spring tide](/wiki/Perigean_spring_tide "Perigean spring tide")
- [Rip tide](/wiki/Rip_tide "Rip tide")
- [Rule of twelfths](/wiki/Rule_of_twelfths "Rule of twelfths")
- [Slack tide](/wiki/Slack_tide "Slack tide")
- [Tidal bore](/wiki/Tidal_bore "Tidal bore")
- [Tidal force](/wiki/Tidal_force "Tidal force")
- [Tidal power](/wiki/Tidal_power "Tidal power")
- [Tidal race](/wiki/Tidal_race "Tidal race")
- [Tidal range](/wiki/Tidal_range "Tidal range")
- [Tidal resonance](/wiki/Tidal_resonance "Tidal resonance")
- [Tide gauge](/wiki/Tide_gauge "Tide gauge")
- [Tideline](/wiki/Tideline "Tideline")
- [Theory of tides](/wiki/Theory_of_tides "Theory of tides")

[Landforms](/wiki/Landform "Landform")

- [Abyssal fan](/wiki/Abyssal_fan "Abyssal fan")
- [Abyssal plain](/wiki/Abyssal_plain "Abyssal plain")
- [Atoll](/wiki/Atoll "Atoll")
- [Bathymetric chart](/wiki/Bathymetric_chart "Bathymetric chart")
- [Coastal geography](/wiki/Coastal_geography "Coastal geography")
- [Cold seep](/wiki/Cold_seep "Cold seep")
- [Continental margin](/wiki/Continental_margin "Continental margin")
- [Continental rise](/wiki/Continental_rise "Continental rise")
- [Continental shelf](/wiki/Continental_shelf "Continental shelf")
- [Contourite](/wiki/Contourite "Contourite")
- [Guyot](/wiki/Guyot "Guyot")
- [Hydrography](/wiki/Hydrography "Hydrography")
- [Knoll](/wiki/Knoll_(oceanography) "Knoll (oceanography)")
- [Oceanic basin](/wiki/Oceanic_basin "Oceanic basin")
- [Oceanic plateau](/wiki/Oceanic_plateau "Oceanic plateau")
- [Oceanic trench](/wiki/Oceanic_trench "Oceanic trench")
- [Passive margin](/wiki/Passive_margin "Passive margin")
- [Seabed](/wiki/Seabed "Seabed")
- [Seamount](/wiki/Seamount "Seamount")
- [Submarine canyon](/wiki/Submarine_canyon "Submarine canyon")
- [Submarine volcano](/wiki/Submarine_volcano "Submarine volcano")

[Plate\
\
tectonics](/wiki/Plate_tectonics "Plate tectonics")

- [Convergent boundary](/wiki/Convergent_boundary "Convergent boundary")
- [Divergent boundary](/wiki/Divergent_boundary "Divergent boundary")
- [Fracture zone](/wiki/Fracture_zone "Fracture zone")
- [Hydrothermal vent](/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent "Hydrothermal vent")
- [Marine geology](/wiki/Marine_geology "Marine geology")
- [Mid-ocean ridge](/wiki/Mid-ocean_ridge "Mid-ocean ridge")
- [Mohorovičić discontinuity](/wiki/Mohorovi%C4%8Di%C4%87_discontinuity "Mohorovičić discontinuity")
- [Vine–Matthews–Morley hypothesis](/wiki/Vine%E2%80%93Matthews%E2%80%93Morley_hypothesis "Vine–Matthews–Morley hypothesis")
- [Oceanic crust](/wiki/Oceanic_crust "Oceanic crust")
- [Outer trench swell](/wiki/Outer_trench_swell "Outer trench swell")
- [Ridge push](/wiki/Ridge_push "Ridge push")
- [Seafloor spreading](/wiki/Seafloor_spreading "Seafloor spreading")
- [Slab pull](/wiki/Slab_pull "Slab pull")
- [Slab suction](/wiki/Slab_suction "Slab suction")
- [Slab window](/wiki/Slab_window "Slab window")
- [Subduction](/wiki/Subduction "Subduction")
- [Transform fault](/wiki/Transform_fault "Transform fault")
- [Volcanic arc](/wiki/Volcanic_arc "Volcanic arc")

Ocean zones

- [Benthic](/wiki/Benthic_zone "Benthic zone")
- [Deep ocean water](/wiki/Deep_ocean_water "Deep ocean water")
- [Deep sea](/wiki/Deep_sea "Deep sea")
- [Littoral](/wiki/Littoral_zone "Littoral zone")
- [Mesopelagic](/wiki/Mesopelagic_zone "Mesopelagic zone")
- [Oceanic](/wiki/Oceanic_zone "Oceanic zone")
- Pelagic
- [Photic](/wiki/Photic_zone "Photic zone")
- [Surf](/wiki/Surf_zone "Surf zone")
- [Swash](/wiki/Swash "Swash")

[Sea level](/wiki/Sea_level "Sea level")

- [Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis](/wiki/Deep-ocean_Assessment_and_Reporting_of_Tsunamis "Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis")
- [Future sea level](/wiki/Future_sea_level "Future sea level")
- [Global Sea Level Observing System](/wiki/Global_Sea_Level_Observing_System "Global Sea Level Observing System")
- [North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System](/wiki/North_West_Shelf_Operational_Oceanographic_System "North West Shelf Operational Oceanographic System")
- [Sea-level curve](/wiki/Sea-level_curve "Sea-level curve")
- [Sea level rise](/wiki/Sea_level_rise "Sea level rise")
- [Sea level drop](/wiki/Sea_level_drop "Sea level drop")
- [World Geodetic System](/wiki/World_Geodetic_System "World Geodetic System")

[Acoustics](/wiki/Acoustical_oceanography "Acoustical oceanography")

- [Deep scattering layer](/wiki/Deep_scattering_layer "Deep scattering layer")
- [Hydroacoustics](/wiki/Hydroacoustics "Hydroacoustics")
- [Ocean acoustic tomography](/wiki/Ocean_acoustic_tomography "Ocean acoustic tomography")
- [Sofar bomb](/wiki/Sofar_bomb "Sofar bomb")
- [SOFAR channel](/wiki/SOFAR_channel "SOFAR channel")
- [Underwater acoustics](/wiki/Underwater_acoustics "Underwater acoustics")

Satellites

- [Jason-1](/wiki/Jason-1 "Jason-1")
- [Jason-2 (Ocean Surface Topography Mission)](/wiki/Ocean_Surface_Topography_Mission "Ocean Surface Topography Mission")
- [Jason-3](/wiki/Jason-3 "Jason-3")

Related

- [Acidification](/wiki/Ocean_acidification "Ocean acidification")
- [Argo](/wiki/Argo_(oceanography) "Argo (oceanography)")
- [Benthic lander](/wiki/Benthic_lander "Benthic lander")
- [Color of water](/wiki/Color_of_water "Color of water")
- [DSV _Alvin_](/wiki/DSV_Alvin "DSV Alvin")
- [Marginal sea](/wiki/Marginal_sea "Marginal sea")
- [Marine energy](/wiki/Marine_energy "Marine energy")
- [Marine pollution](/wiki/Marine_pollution "Marine pollution")
- [Mooring](/wiki/Mooring_(oceanography) "Mooring (oceanography)")
- [National Oceanographic Data Center](/wiki/National_Oceanographic_Data_Center "National Oceanographic Data Center")
- [Ocean](/wiki/Ocean "Ocean")
- [Explorations](/wiki/Ocean_exploration "Ocean exploration")
- [Observations](/wiki/Ocean_observations "Ocean observations")
- [Reanalysis](/wiki/Ocean_reanalysis "Ocean reanalysis")
- [Ocean surface topography](/wiki/Ocean_surface_topography "Ocean surface topography")
- [Ocean temperature](/wiki/Ocean_temperature "Ocean temperature")
- [Ocean thermal energy conversion](/wiki/Ocean_thermal_energy_conversion "Ocean thermal energy conversion")
- [Oceanography](/wiki/Oceanography "Oceanography")
  - [Outline of oceanography](/wiki/Outline_of_oceanography "Outline of oceanography")
- [Pelagic sediment](/wiki/Pelagic_sediment "Pelagic sediment")
- [Sea surface microlayer](/wiki/Sea_surface_microlayer "Sea surface microlayer")
- [Sea surface temperature](/wiki/Sea_surface_temperature "Sea surface temperature")
- [Seawater](/wiki/Seawater "Seawater")
- [Science On a Sphere](/wiki/Science_On_a_Sphere "Science On a Sphere")
- [Stratification](/wiki/Ocean_stratification "Ocean stratification")
- [Thermocline](/wiki/Thermocline "Thermocline")
- [Underwater glider](/wiki/Underwater_glider "Underwater glider")
- [Water column](/wiki/Water_column "Water column")
- [World Ocean Atlas](/wiki/World_Ocean_Atlas "World Ocean Atlas")

- **[![icon](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg/32px-Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg)](/wiki/File:Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg)[Oceans portal](/wiki/Portal:Oceans "Portal:Oceans")**
- ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png)[Category](/wiki/Category:Physical_oceanography "Category:Physical oceanography")
- ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png)[Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Physical_oceanography "commons:Category:Physical oceanography")

- [v](/wiki/Template:Aquatic_ecosystems "Template:Aquatic ecosystems")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Aquatic_ecosystems "Template talk:Aquatic ecosystems")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Aquatic_ecosystems "Special:EditPage/Template:Aquatic ecosystems")

[Aquatic ecosystems](/wiki/Aquatic_ecosystem "Aquatic ecosystem")

General components and [freshwater ecosystems](/wiki/Freshwater_ecosystem "Freshwater ecosystem")

General

- [Acoustic ecology](/wiki/Acoustic_ecology "Acoustic ecology")
- [Algal bloom](/wiki/Algal_bloom "Algal bloom")
- [Anoxic waters](/wiki/Anoxic_waters "Anoxic waters")
- [Aquatic adaptation](/wiki/Aquatic_adaptation "Aquatic adaptation")
- [Aquatic animal](/wiki/Aquatic_animal "Aquatic animal")
  - [Insect](/wiki/Aquatic_insect "Aquatic insect")
  - [Mammal](/wiki/Aquatic_mammal "Aquatic mammal")
  - [Water bird](/wiki/Water_bird "Water bird")
- [Aquatic biomonitoring](/wiki/Aquatic_biomonitoring "Aquatic biomonitoring")
- [Aquatic plant](/wiki/Aquatic_plant "Aquatic plant")
- [Aquatic population dynamics](/wiki/Agent-based_model_in_biology#Aquatic_population_dynamics "Agent-based model in biology")
- [Aquatic predation](/wiki/Aquatic_predation "Aquatic predation")
- [Aquatic respiration](/wiki/Aquatic_respiration "Aquatic respiration")
- [Aquatic science](/wiki/Aquatic_science "Aquatic science")
- [Aquatic toxicology](/wiki/Aquatic_toxicology "Aquatic toxicology")
- [Benthos](/wiki/Benthos "Benthos")
- [Bioluminescence](/wiki/Bioluminescence "Bioluminescence")
- [Biomass](/wiki/Biomass_(ecology) "Biomass (ecology)")
- [Cascade effect](/wiki/Cascade_effect_(ecology) "Cascade effect (ecology)")
- [Colored dissolved organic matter](/wiki/Colored_dissolved_organic_matter "Colored dissolved organic matter")
- [Dead zone](/wiki/Dead_zone_(ecology) "Dead zone (ecology)")
- [Ecohydrology](/wiki/Ecohydrology "Ecohydrology")
- [Eutrophication](/wiki/Eutrophication "Eutrophication")
- [Fisheries science](/wiki/Fisheries_science "Fisheries science")
- [Food chain](/wiki/Food_chain "Food chain")
- [Food web](/wiki/Food_web "Food web")
- [GIS and aquatic science](/wiki/GIS_and_aquatic_science "GIS and aquatic science")
- [Hydrobiology](/wiki/Hydrobiology "Hydrobiology")
- [Hypoxia](/wiki/Hypoxia_(environmental) "Hypoxia (environmental)")
- [Macrobenthos](/wiki/Macrobenthos "Macrobenthos")
- [Meiobenthos](/wiki/Meiobenthos "Meiobenthos")
- [Microbial ecology](/wiki/Microbial_ecology "Microbial ecology")
- [Microbial food web](/wiki/Microbial_food_web "Microbial food web")
- [Microbial loop](/wiki/Microbial_loop "Microbial loop")
- [Nekton](/wiki/Nekton "Nekton")
- [Neuston](/wiki/Neuston "Neuston")
- [Particle](/wiki/Particle_(ecology) "Particle (ecology)")
- Pelagic zone
- [Photic zone](/wiki/Photic_zone "Photic zone")
- [Phytoplankton](/wiki/Phytoplankton "Phytoplankton")
- [Plankton](/wiki/Plankton "Plankton")
- [Pleuston](/wiki/Pleuston "Pleuston")
- [Productivity](/wiki/Productivity_(ecology) "Productivity (ecology)")
- [Ramsar Convention](/wiki/Ramsar_Convention "Ramsar Convention")
- [Sediment trap](/wiki/Sediment_trap "Sediment trap")
- [Shoaling and schooling](/wiki/Shoaling_and_schooling "Shoaling and schooling")
- [Siltation](/wiki/Siltation "Siltation")
- [Spawn](/wiki/Spawn_(biology) "Spawn (biology)")
- [Stable isotope analysis in aquatic ecosystems](/wiki/Isotope_analysis#Stable_isotope_analysis_in_aquatic_ecosystems "Isotope analysis")
- [Substrate](/wiki/Substrate_(marine_biology) "Substrate (marine biology)")
- [Thermal pollution](/wiki/Thermal_pollution "Thermal pollution")
- [Trophic level](/wiki/Trophic_level "Trophic level")
- [Underwater camouflage](/wiki/Underwater_camouflage "Underwater camouflage")
- [Water column](/wiki/Water_column "Water column")
- [Zooplankton](/wiki/Zooplankton "Zooplankton")

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Aerial_view_of_Slapton_Sands_and_northern_part_of_Ley_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1434412.jpg/140px-Aerial_view_of_Slapton_Sands_and_northern_part_of_Ley_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1434412.jpg)](/wiki/File:Aerial_view_of_Slapton_Sands_and_northern_part_of_Ley_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1434412.jpg)

Freshwater

- [Freshwater biology](/wiki/Freshwater_biology "Freshwater biology")
- [Freshwater biome](/wiki/Freshwater_biome "Freshwater biome")
- [Freshwater environmental quality parameters](/wiki/Freshwater_environmental_quality_parameters "Freshwater environmental quality parameters")
- [Freshwater fish](/wiki/Freshwater_fish "Freshwater fish")
- [Hyporheic zone](/wiki/Hyporheic_zone "Hyporheic zone")
- [Limnology](/wiki/Limnology "Limnology")
- [Lake ecosystem](/wiki/Lake_ecosystem "Lake ecosystem")
- [Lake stratification](/wiki/Lake_stratification "Lake stratification")
- [Macrophyte](/wiki/Macrophyte "Macrophyte")
- [Pond](/wiki/Pond "Pond")
  - [Fish pond](/wiki/Fish_pond "Fish pond")
- [Rheotaxis](/wiki/Rheotaxis "Rheotaxis")
- [River ecosystem](/wiki/River_ecosystem "River ecosystem")
- [Stream bed](/wiki/Stream_bed "Stream bed")
- [Stream pool](/wiki/Stream_pool "Stream pool")
- [Trophic state index](/wiki/Trophic_state_index "Trophic state index")
- [Upland and lowland](/wiki/Upland_and_lowland "Upland and lowland")
- [Water garden](/wiki/Water_garden "Water garden")
- [Wetland](/wiki/Wetland "Wetland")
  - [Bog](/wiki/Bog "Bog")
  - [Brackish marsh](/wiki/Brackish_marsh "Brackish marsh")
  - [Fen](/wiki/Fen "Fen")
  - [Freshwater marsh](/wiki/Freshwater_marsh "Freshwater marsh")
  - [Freshwater swamp forest](/wiki/Freshwater_swamp_forest "Freshwater swamp forest")

Ecoregions

- [List of freshwater ecoregions (WWF)](/wiki/List_of_freshwater_ecoregions_(WWF) "List of freshwater ecoregions (WWF)")
  - [Africa and Madagascar](/wiki/List_of_freshwater_ecoregions_in_Africa_and_Madagascar "List of freshwater ecoregions in Africa and Madagascar")
  - [Latin America and the Caribbean](/wiki/List_of_freshwater_ecoregions_of_Latin_America_and_the_Caribbean "List of freshwater ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean")
- [List of marine ecoregions](/wiki/List_of_marine_ecoregions "List of marine ecoregions")
- Specific examples
  - [Everglades](/wiki/Geography_and_ecology_of_the_Everglades "Geography and ecology of the Everglades")
  - [Maharashtra](/wiki/Freshwater_ecology_of_Maharashtra "Freshwater ecology of Maharashtra")
  - [North Pacific Subtropical Gyre](/wiki/Ecosystem_of_the_North_Pacific_Subtropical_Gyre "Ecosystem of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre")
  - [San Francisco Estuary](/wiki/Ecology_of_the_San_Francisco_Estuary "Ecology of the San Francisco Estuary")

[Marine ecosystems](/wiki/Marine_ecosystem "Marine ecosystem")

General

- [Deep scattering layer](/wiki/Deep_scattering_layer "Deep scattering layer")
- [Diel vertical migration](/wiki/Diel_vertical_migration "Diel vertical migration")
- [f-ratio](/wiki/F-ratio_(oceanography) "F-ratio (oceanography)")
- [Iron fertilization](/wiki/Iron_fertilization "Iron fertilization")
- [Large marine ecosystem](/wiki/Large_marine_ecosystem "Large marine ecosystem")
- [Marine biology](/wiki/Marine_biology "Marine biology")
- [Marine chemistry](/wiki/Marine_chemistry "Marine chemistry")
- [Marine food web](/wiki/Marine_food_web "Marine food web")
- [Marine primary production](/wiki/Marine_primary_production "Marine primary production")
- [Marine snow](/wiki/Marine_snow "Marine snow")
- [Ocean fertilization](/wiki/Ocean_fertilization "Ocean fertilization")
- [Oceanic physical-biological process](/wiki/Oceanic_physical-biological_process "Oceanic physical-biological process")
- [Ocean turbidity](/wiki/Ocean_turbidity "Ocean turbidity")
- [Photophore](/wiki/Photophore "Photophore")
- [Thorson's rule](/wiki/Thorson%27s_rule "Thorson's rule")
- [Upwelling](/wiki/Upwelling "Upwelling")
- [Viral shunt](/wiki/Viral_shunt "Viral shunt")
- [Whale fall](/wiki/Whale_fall "Whale fall")

[![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Maldivesfish2.jpg/140px-Maldivesfish2.jpg)](/wiki/File:Maldivesfish2.jpg)

[Marine life](/wiki/Marine_life "Marine life")

- [Census of Marine Life](/wiki/Census_of_Marine_Life "Census of Marine Life")
- [Deep-sea community](/wiki/Deep-sea_community "Deep-sea community")
- [Deep-water coral](/wiki/Deep-water_coral "Deep-water coral")
- [Marine fungi](/wiki/Marine_fungi "Marine fungi")
- [Marine invertebrates](/wiki/Marine_invertebrates "Marine invertebrates")
- [Marine larval ecology](/wiki/Marine_larval_ecology "Marine larval ecology")
- [Seagrass](/wiki/Seagrass "Seagrass")
- [Seashore wildlife](/wiki/Seashore_wildlife "Seashore wildlife")
- [Wild fisheries](/wiki/Wild_fisheries "Wild fisheries")

[Microorganisms](/wiki/Marine_microorganisms "Marine microorganisms")

- [Marine bacteriophage](/wiki/Marine_bacteriophage "Marine bacteriophage")
- [Marine prokaryotes](/wiki/Marine_prokaryotes "Marine prokaryotes")
- [Marine protists](/wiki/Marine_protists "Marine protists")
- [Marine viruses](/wiki/Marine_viruses "Marine viruses")
- [Paradox of the plankton](/wiki/Paradox_of_the_plankton "Paradox of the plankton")

[Vertebrates](/wiki/Marine_vertebrate "Marine vertebrate")

- [Marine mammal](/wiki/Marine_mammal "Marine mammal")
- [Marine reptile](/wiki/Marine_reptile "Marine reptile")
- [Saltwater fish](/wiki/Saltwater_fish "Saltwater fish")
  - [Coastal fish](/wiki/Coastal_fish "Coastal fish")
  - [Coral reef fish](/wiki/Coral_reef_fish "Coral reef fish")
  - [Deep-sea fish](/wiki/Deep-sea_fish "Deep-sea fish")
  - [Demersal fish](/wiki/Demersal_fish "Demersal fish")
  - [Pelagic fish](/wiki/Pelagic_fish "Pelagic fish")
- [Seabird](/wiki/Seabird "Seabird")

[Marine habitats](/wiki/Marine_habitat "Marine habitat")

- [Bay mud](/wiki/Bay_mud "Bay mud")
- [Marine coastal ecosystem](/wiki/Marine_coastal_ecosystem "Marine coastal ecosystem")
- [Coastal biogeomorphology](/wiki/Coastal_biogeomorphology "Coastal biogeomorphology")
- [Cold seep](/wiki/Cold_seep "Cold seep")
- [Coral reef](/wiki/Coral_reef "Coral reef")
- [Davidson Seamount § Ecology](/wiki/Davidson_Seamount#Ecology "Davidson Seamount")
- [Estuary](/wiki/Estuary "Estuary")
- [Intertidal ecology](/wiki/Intertidal_ecology "Intertidal ecology")
- [Intertidal wetland](/wiki/Intertidal_wetland "Intertidal wetland")
- [Kelp forest](/wiki/Kelp_forest "Kelp forest")
- [Hydrothermal vent](/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent "Hydrothermal vent")
- [Lagoon](/wiki/Lagoon "Lagoon")
- [Mangrove](/wiki/Mangrove "Mangrove")
- [Marine biomes](/wiki/Marine_biomes "Marine biomes")
- [Mudflat](/wiki/Mudflat "Mudflat")
- [Oyster reef](/wiki/Oyster_reef "Oyster reef")
- [Rocky shore](/wiki/Rocky_shore "Rocky shore")
- [Salt marsh](/wiki/Salt_marsh "Salt marsh")
- [Salt pannes and pools](/wiki/Salt_pannes_and_pools "Salt pannes and pools")
- [Seagrass meadow](/wiki/Seagrass_meadow "Seagrass meadow")
- [Sponge ground](/wiki/Sponge_ground "Sponge ground")
- [Sponge reef](/wiki/Sponge_reef "Sponge reef")
- [Tide pool](/wiki/Tide_pool "Tide pool")

[Conservation](/wiki/Marine_conservation "Marine conservation")

- [Coral bleaching](/wiki/Coral_bleaching "Coral bleaching")
- [Ecological values of mangroves](/wiki/Ecological_values_of_mangroves "Ecological values of mangroves")
- [Fisheries and climate change](/wiki/Fisheries_and_climate_change "Fisheries and climate change")
- [HERMIONE](/wiki/Hotspot_Ecosystem_Research_and_Man%27s_Impact_On_European_Seas "Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man's Impact On European Seas")
- [Human impact on marine life](/wiki/Human_impact_on_marine_life "Human impact on marine life")
- [Marine conservation activism](/wiki/Marine_conservation_activism "Marine conservation activism")
- [Marine pollution](/wiki/Marine_pollution "Marine pollution")
- [Marine protected area](/wiki/Marine_protected_area "Marine protected area")

- ![image](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Walden_Pond%2C_Massachusetts_on_June_27%2C_2012.png/16px-Walden_Pond%2C_Massachusetts_on_June_27%2C_2012.png)[Lakes portal](/wiki/Portal:Lakes "Portal:Lakes")
- [![icon](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg/16px-Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg)](/wiki/File:Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg)[Oceans portal](/wiki/Portal:Oceans "Portal:Oceans")
- ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png)[Category](/wiki/Category:Aquatic_ecology "Category:Aquatic ecology")

- [v](/wiki/Template:Biomes "Template:Biomes")
- [t](/wiki/Template_talk:Biomes "Template talk:Biomes")
- [e](/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Biomes "Special:EditPage/Template:Biomes")

[Biogeographic regionalisations](/wiki/Biogeography#Biogeographic_regionalisations "Biogeography")

[Biomes](/wiki/Biome "Biome")

Terrestrial

biomes

Polar/montane

- [Tundra](/wiki/Tundra "Tundra")
- [Taiga](/wiki/Taiga "Taiga")
- [Montane grasslands and shrublands](/wiki/Montane_grasslands_and_shrublands "Montane grasslands and shrublands")
- [Alpine tundra](/wiki/Alpine_tundra "Alpine tundra")

Temperate

- [Coniferous forests](/wiki/Temperate_coniferous_forest "Temperate coniferous forest")
- [Broadleaf and mixed forests](/wiki/Temperate_broadleaf_and_mixed_forests "Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests")
- [Deciduous forests](/wiki/Temperate_deciduous_forest "Temperate deciduous forest")
- [Grasslands, savannas, and shrublands](/wiki/Temperate_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands "Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands")

Tropical and

subtropical

- [Tropical rainforest](/wiki/Tropical_rainforest "Tropical rainforest")
- [Coniferous forests](/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_coniferous_forests "Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests")
- [Moist broadleaf forests](/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests "Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests")
- [Dry broadleaf forests](/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_dry_broadleaf_forests "Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests")
- [Grasslands, savannas, and shrublands](/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_grasslands,_savannas,_and_shrublands "Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands")

Dry

- [Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub](/wiki/Mediterranean_forests,_woodlands,_and_scrub "Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub")
- [Deserts and xeric shrublands](/wiki/Deserts_and_xeric_shrublands "Deserts and xeric shrublands")
- [Steppe](/wiki/Steppe "Steppe")

Wet

- [Flooded grasslands and savannas](/wiki/Flooded_grasslands_and_savannas "Flooded grasslands and savannas")
- [Riparian](/wiki/Riparian_zone "Riparian zone")
- [Wetland](/wiki/Wetland "Wetland")
- [Mangrove](/wiki/Mangrove "Mangrove")

Aquatic

biomes

- [Pond](/wiki/Pond "Pond")
- [Littoral](/wiki/Littoral_zone "Littoral zone")
- [Intertidal](/wiki/Intertidal_zone "Intertidal zone")
- [Mangroves](/wiki/Mangrove "Mangrove")
- [Kelp forests](/wiki/Kelp_forest "Kelp forest")
- [Coral reefs](/wiki/Coral_reef "Coral reef")
- [Neritic zone](/wiki/Neritic_zone "Neritic zone")
- Pelagic zone
- [Benthic zone](/wiki/Benthic_zone "Benthic zone")
- [Hydrothermal vents](/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent "Hydrothermal vent")
- [Cold seeps](/wiki/Cold_seep "Cold seep")
- [Demersal zone](/wiki/Demersal_zone "Demersal zone")

Other biomes

- [Endolithic zone](/wiki/Endolith "Endolith")

[Biogeographic \
\
realms](/wiki/Biogeographic_realm "Biogeographic realm")

Terrestrial

- [Afrotropical](/wiki/Afrotropical_realm "Afrotropical realm")
- [Antarctic](/wiki/Antarctic_realm "Antarctic realm")
- [Australasian](/wiki/Australasian_realm "Australasian realm")
- [Holarctic](/wiki/Holarctic_realm "Holarctic realm")
- [Indomalayan](/wiki/Indomalayan_realm "Indomalayan realm")
- [Nearctic](/wiki/Nearctic_realm "Nearctic realm")
- [Neotropical](/wiki/Neotropical_realm "Neotropical realm")
- [Oceanian](/wiki/Oceanian_realm "Oceanian realm")
- [Palearctic](/wiki/Palearctic_realm "Palearctic realm")

Marine

- [Antarctic/Southern Ocean](/wiki/Southern_Ocean "Southern Ocean")
- [Arctic](/wiki/Arctic_realm "Arctic realm")
- [Central Indo-Pacific](/wiki/Central_Indo-Pacific "Central Indo-Pacific")
- [Eastern Indo-Pacific](/wiki/Eastern_Indo-Pacific "Eastern Indo-Pacific")
- [Temperate Australasia](/wiki/Temperate_Australasia "Temperate Australasia")
- [Temperate Northern Atlantic](/wiki/Temperate_Northern_Atlantic "Temperate Northern Atlantic")
- [Temperate Northern Pacific](/wiki/Temperate_Northern_Pacific "Temperate Northern Pacific")
- [Temperate South America](/wiki/Temperate_South_America "Temperate South America")
- [Temperate Southern Africa](/wiki/Temperate_Southern_Africa "Temperate Southern Africa")
- [Tropical Atlantic](/wiki/Tropical_Atlantic "Tropical Atlantic")
- [Tropical Eastern Pacific](/wiki/Tropical_Eastern_Pacific "Tropical Eastern Pacific")
- [Western Indo-Pacific](/wiki/Western_Indo-Pacific "Western Indo-Pacific")

Subdivisions

- [Biogeographic provinces](/wiki/List_of_biogeographic_provinces "List of biogeographic provinces")
- [Bioregions](/wiki/Bioregion "Bioregion")
- [Ecoregions](/wiki/Ecoregion "Ecoregion")
  - [Lists of ecoregions](/wiki/Lists_of_ecoregions "Lists of ecoregions")
  - [Global 200 ecoregions](/wiki/Global_200 "Global 200")

See also

- [Altitudinal zonation](/wiki/Altitudinal_zonation "Altitudinal zonation")
- [Ecological land classification](/wiki/Ecological_land_classification "Ecological land classification")
- [Floristic kingdoms](/wiki/Floristic_kingdom "Floristic kingdom")
- [Vegetation classifications](/wiki/Vegetation_classification "Vegetation classification")
- [Zoogeographic regions](/wiki/Zoogeographic_region "Zoogeographic region")

[Authority control databases](/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control"): National [![Edit this at Wikidata](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191468#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata")

- [Germany](https://d-nb.info/gnd/4173618-7)

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[Categories](/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"):

- [Aquatic biomes](/wiki/Category:Aquatic_biomes "Category:Aquatic biomes")
- [Fisheries science](/wiki/Category:Fisheries_science "Category:Fisheries science")
- [Oceanographical terminology](/wiki/Category:Oceanographical_terminology "Category:Oceanographical terminology")
- [Oceanography](/wiki/Category:Oceanography "Category:Oceanography")

Hidden categories:

- [Webarchive template wayback links](/wiki/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links "Category:Webarchive template wayback links")
- [Articles with short description](/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description "Category:Articles with short description")
- [Short description is different from Wikidata](/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata "Category:Short description is different from Wikidata")
- [Use dmy dates from August 2020](/wiki/Category:Use_dmy_dates_from_August_2020 "Category:Use dmy dates from August 2020")
- [All articles with unsourced statements](/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_unsourced_statements "Category:All articles with unsourced statements")
- [Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021](/wiki/Category:Articles_with_unsourced_statements_from_January_2021 "Category:Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021")

- This page was last edited on 9 July 2024, at 18:48 (UTC).
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