marine ecosystem

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References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

generalized aquatic food web

hydrothermal mussels

palinurid lobster life cycle

Algae, primarily diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids, which are often collectively called phytoplankton, are the base of the food chain for all marine organisms.

Upwelling process along coast

marine food chain

Learn about microplastic and its harmful effect on marine animals

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Star fish entangled in gillnet

Talking Ocean Trash: Ghost Gear Keeps on Fishing

algae. Lake Erie. Dead fish in harmful algal bloom along the southeast Lake Erie shore of Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada, 5 miles north of the international line Aug. 19, 2011. Toxic algae blooms, drinking water, 4th largest of 5 Great Lakes

Harmful Algal Blooms

Great Barrier Reef coral bleached area map and infographic

Coral Bleaching: A Threat to Our Reefs

A large school of mano (sharks) called Galapagos sharks at Maro Reef in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Galapagos shark (Carcharhinus galapagensis)a worldwide species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae.

Saving Sharks in the 2020s

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The impeachment trial of Pres. Andrew Johnson, illustration from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, March 28, 1868.

What If the President Is Impeached?

Bakers Dozen of Donuts, or Paczki's

Why Is a Baker’s Dozen 13?

Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.

Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?

Calendar showing the month of February

Why Are There Only 28 Days in February?

winter ice melting salt on the ground, pattern as background

Why Does Salt Melt Ice?

Martin Luther King Jr., and his wife, Coretta, lead off the final lap to the state capitol at Montgomery, Alabama on March 25, 1965. Thousands of civil rights marchers joined in the walk, which began in Selma, demanding voter registration rights

Why Is Black History Month Celebrated in February?

Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

marine ecosystem: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	ocean ecosystem • sea ecosystem

Photos and Videos

generalized aquatic food web

hydrothermal mussels

palinurid lobster life cycle

Algae, primarily diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophorids, which are often collectively called phytoplankton, are the base of the food chain for all marine organisms.

Upwelling process along coast

marine food chain

Learn about microplastic and its harmful effect on marine animals

Know about microbead (microplastic) pollution and its devastating effect on marine life

How climate change affects sea life

Know why urinating in the ocean is not chemically damaging to the marine ecosystem

Take an in-depth look at the variety of plankton, from diatoms and microflagellates to jellyfish

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

abyssal zone bathyal zone bottom water littoral zone halocline photic zone deep-scattering layer neritic zone marine animal aphotic zone inland water ecosystem boundary ecosystem pelagic zone

Key People

Timothy Parsons

Canadian biologist

Quiz

Chutes d'Ekom - a waterfall on the Nkam river in the rainforest near Melong, in the western highlands of Cameroon in Africa.

Ecosystems