Marine Biomes

Date

2003

Authors

Woodward, Susan L.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Greenwood Press

Abstract

Oceans cover 71 percent of the Earth's surface and contain 97.2 percent of the planet's water. Considering that life occurs throughout the seas but survives in only a thin film on, just below and just above the continental surfaces, it can be said that oceans represent 99 percent of the habitable space on Earth. .... Attempts to apply the biome concept to this vast realm are complicated by the fact that the feature that distinguishes terrestrial biomes is the structure of the natural vegetation, dominated by conspicuous flowering plants and shaped by adaptation to regional climate. ... This section continues the discussion upon the distinguishing characteristics of marine biomes, specifically coastal, continental shelf, and the deep sea biome.

Description

pgs. 274-287

Keywords

biome, coastal, continental shelf, deep sea, marine, ocean, algae

Citation