Chesapeake Ocean Habitat

The earth is covered with 70% of water in the form of seas, oceans, lakes, and rivers. These water bodies act as marine habitat for different animals and plants to live, by providing suitable environmental conditions. There marine habitat is broadly divided into two types, they are Coastal, open ocean habitat and Deep ocean. [1]

Coastal habitat: Coastal habitat is located along the coast line of water bodies. Generally, coastal habitat is prone to erosion due to rise and fall of tides and waves. Based on location and type of environmental conditions, coastal habitat is divided in to many types. [1]

a. Intertidal zones:

This habitat is lies between the high and low tide zone, consists of both water and land. It is again divided in to Spray,

The main animals and plants seen here are ghost crab, porpoises. [3]

c. Estuaries and salt marshes:

These are located nearer to the coast line and protects animals in their development phases. Estuaries mostly seen on the coast of rivers, and salt marshes located on the shores of oceans. The biggest estuaries is Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Animals like blue crab, marsh shrimp, and fiddler crabs are seen in estuaries and salt marshes. [4]

d. Mangroves:

In mangrove habitat different types of plants are seen and they will protect the coastal areas from storms, cyclones, and hurricanes. It also reduces erosion and siltation. These are mainly seen tropic and sub-tropical type of climatic zones. Trees in this habit are the source of gums, tannins, and fuel wood. [4]

e. Coral reefs:

These are seen along the coast line and waters also. Corals are made up of calcium and these acts as shelter for tiny creatures living in the mud and sand. These are used for making artificial coral reefs. [5] Ocean habitat:

Open ocean habitat starts from coastal line to above the sea bed. Animals like Fishes, Penguins, Shrimps, Dolphins, etc. are seen at different zones of open ocean habitat.

The Epipelagic zone:

The epipelagic zone consists of many animals and plants because sunlight penetrates through the water up to 200 Meters. This zone is suitable for scuba diving and other water sports. Marine mammals are abundantly found in this region. [6]

b. The Mesopelagic zone:

This zone is also called as Twilight zone. It starts after the epipelagic zone and has a depth of 1000meters, light decrease from 200- 1000meters gradually. Animals like Dragon fish, viper fish, and spine eels are present, they have special organs to catch the pray as the light is not is not available in this zone. [6]

c. The Bathypelagic zone:

The Bathypelagic zone starts at 1000 meters and extends up to 4000 meters. Animals in this zone are mostly in red and black, but they appear in blue due to bioluminescence. Different species like mollusks, crustaceans and jelly fish are predominant, they are dependent on detritus for survival. [6]

d. The Abyssal pelagic zone:

The Abyssal pelagic zone starts after the bathypelagic zone and extends up to 6000meters. Due to freezing temperatures and low pressure, it is hard to any animal to survive in this region. Animals like basket stars, sea pigs, and sea spider, can survive in this region.