Ecosystem Of The Ocean Floor

But coral reefs only occupy less than one tenth of one percent of the ocean floor.

Ecosystem of the ocean floor.

In fact humans know more about the surface of the moon than the ocean floor. There are many different parts that make up an ecosystem and each part plays a role in maintaining balance within the system. In fact it has been said that we know more about the surface of the moon than about the deeper ocean trenches. Offering vibrant colors and the greatest biodiversity of any marine ecosystem on the planet.

The ocean floor covers 70 of the earth s surface. In 2007 kelp forests were also discovered in tropical waters near ecuador. The national park service has ten parks with coral reefs. Nearly half of the world s sea floors are over 3 000 meters 9 800 ft deep.

Physically formed by brown macroalgae kelp forests provide a unique habitat for marine organisms and are a source for understanding many ecological processes. Some coral reefs are so large they are even visible from outer space. Coral reefs alone are home to over 25 of all marine life despite occupying less than 1 of the ocean floor. Only about 1 of the sea floor has been explored by humans.

Marine ecosystem includes saltmarsh mangroves mudflats lagoons coral reefs barrier islands estuaries the ocean floor and the deep sea etc. This sciencestruck article highlights facts structure and lifeforms belonging to this ecosystem. Ocean floor and trench ecology. The deepest reaches of the ocean were once thought to be devoid of life since no light penetrates beyond 1 000 meters 3 300 feet.

But then hydrothermal vents were discovered. Over the last century they have been the focus of extensive research particularly. Like all ecosystems marine ecosystems are finely balanced and highly complex. Contrary to popular belief most of the sea floor known as the open ocean is not really a habitat for animals just a place they pass by on the way to somewhere else.

Like land the ocean floor is not completely flat but features abyssal plains valleys deep trenches massive mountains and other undulations. Here are 15 crazy facts about the ocean floor. Kelp forests occur worldwide throughout temperate and polar coastal oceans. In most of the world the ocean floor is very deep averaging 3 790 meters 12 430 ft in depth.

We know very little about the deep ocean floor and the life it holds due to the depth and the difficulties this creates for scientists. New species are discovered in the ocean each year by marine biologists and other ocean scientists. Many of these newly discovered species live deep on the ocean floor in unique habitats that depend on plate movement underwater volcanoes and cold water seeps. Deep ocean hydrothermal vent ecosystems were discovered in 1977.