Neritic zone

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epipelagic fish
.
Coastal habitats
Ocean surface
Open ocean
Sea floor
  As highlighted in light green, the neritic zone coincides with the relative shallows of the continental shelves

The neritic zone (or sublittoral zone) is the relatively shallow part of the ocean above the drop-off of the continental shelf, approximately 200 metres (660 ft) in depth.[1][2] From the point of view of marine biology it forms a relatively stable and well-illuminated environment for marine life, from plankton up to large fish and corals, while physical oceanography sees it as where the oceanic system interacts with the coast.

Definition (marine biology), context, extra terminology

In

ocean floor, that is, where the water is never so deep as to take it out of the photic zone
.

It extends from the low tide mark to the edge of the

continental slope begins, descending from the continental shelf to the abyssal plain and the pelagic zone
.

Within the neritic, marine biologists also identify the following:[citation needed]

Physical characteristics

The neritic zone is covered with generally well-

oxygenated water, receives plenty of sunlight, is relatively stable temperature, has low water pressure and stable salinity levels, making it highly suitable for photosynthetic
life. There are several different areas or zones in the ocean. The area along the bottom of any body of water from the shore to the deepest abyss is called the benthic zone. It is where decomposed organic debris (also known as ocean 'snow') has settled to form a sediment layer. All photosynthetic life needs light to grow and how far out into the ocean light can still penetrate through the water column to the floor or benthic zone is what defines the neritic zone. That photic zone, or area where light can penetrate through the water column, is usually above ~100 m (~328 ft). Some coastal areas have a long area of shallow water that extends far out beyond the landmass into the water and others, for example islands that have formed from ancient volcanos where the 'shelf' or edge of the land mass is very steep, have a very short neritic zone.

Life forms

The above characteristics make the neritic zone the location of the majority of sea life.[4] The result is high primary production by photosynthetic life such as phytoplankton and floating sargassum;

foraminiferans to small fish and shrimp
, feed on the phytoplankton (and one another); both
trophic levels in turn form the base of the food chain (or, more properly, web) that supports most of the world's great wild fisheries
. Corals are also mostly found in the neritic zone, where they are more common than in the intertidal zone as they have less change to deal with.

Definition (physical oceanography)

In

ocean fronts.[citation needed
] As in marine biology, this zone typically extends to the edge of the continental shelf.

See also

References

  1. ^ anon. (n.d). Ocean Regions: Blue Water – Characteristics. Available: "Ocean Regions: Blue Water - Characteristics". Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2012.. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
  2. ^ Rizk, F. (n.d). MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY. Available: "Primary Productivity". Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.. Last accessed 15 May 2014.
  3. ISBN 9788126104611
    . Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  4. ^ Office of Naval Research Archived 13 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
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