Ocean currents have a major impact on the living conditions because of the effects they have on the temperature and salinity of the ocean. They are also important with respect to food availability and thus conditions for growth and as a consequence spatial distribution.
Hafstraumar hafa mikil áhrif á lífsskilyrði með áhrifum á hita og seltustig sjávar og eru mikilvægir við dreifingu fæðu og ákvörðun vaxtarskilyrða og útbreiðslu lífvera.