Coastal and marine ecosystems are divided into various zones based on depth and distance from the shore, including intertidal, coastal, and open ocean zones. Sunlight penetrates only the surface, creating the photic zone where photosynthesis occurs up to about 200 feet deep.
they are temperate zone estuaries: found in north america, from southern maine to georgia
Contain salt tolerant grasses
Detritus
tiny organic material that provide food for organisms at the base of the estuary's food web.
Estuaries
Primary producers: plants, algae, and both photo and chemosynthetic bacteria
wetlands formed where the river meets the sea
They are affected by the rise and fall of ocean tides
Aphotic Zone
Chemosynthetic autotrophs can only live there.
below photic zone:permanently dark
Marine Biologists divide the ocean into different zones depending on the depth and distance from the shore: intertidal zone, coastal zone, and open ocean zone.
Sunlight penetrates a short distance om surface of the water
Photic Zone
Photosynthes is limited at surface of the water:depth of about 200 feet