Ocean Zonation

Ocean Zonation
Canada's Aquatic Environments
CyberNatural Software Group,
University of Guelph

The ocean can be divided into many zones, each with its own dominant organisms. The bottom of the ocean is known as the benthic zone, while the pelagic zone extends from the ocean floor to the surface. It is divided according to its proximity to land and the depth of water. The neritic zone is that part of the pelagic zone which extends from the high tide line to the ocean bottom less than 200 m deep while water deeper than 200 m feet is referred to as the oceanic zone.

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