READ: Physical Properties & Ocean Life
The oceans' physical properties affect what organisms can live there. For example, sunlight can only penetrate to certain depths of the ocean, limiting where algae and phytoplankton can survive. Organisms typically have tolerances for salinity, temperature and pressure; conditions that are too hot, too cold, or too salty limit the species that can survive in specific ocean habitats. Many organisms cannot survive at depth in the ocean because of the extreme pressure.
The ocean can be divided into zones according to depth, and it can be characterized by the amount of sunlight that can penetrate through the water column, the temperature and salinity profiles, as well as the types of habitats & ecosystems that exist there. Organisms in the oceans have adapted unique lifestyles for surviving and thriving in extreme physical conditions. The videos and interactive lessons on the following pages will allow you to explore the different light zones, habitat zones, and lifestyles of ocean life.
After you have completed this part of the lesson, you can check the box for this lesson piece in the course to mark it as complete 