Ocean Biome Facts

Ocean Biome Description 

A common belief is that the ocean biome was the first one to exist. More than 3 million years ago the first life forms were able to derive from here. While that is still a debated fact, you can’t help but recognize the importance of the ocean biome. While the water is refreshing to look at and enjoyable to be around, there is so much activity going on within it. 

We tend to fail to realize all that lives in the ocean biome though. That is because most of the plants and animals live in the areas of it where we don’t spend our time. Even if you go out in to the ocean to where your feet can’t touch, you are no where near the depths of what really exists out there. It is fascinating, and as you learn more you will be in awe of the ocean biomes. 

Approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water from oceans. There are five ocean biomes in the world – Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean. They also branch off into some of the major seas. This includes the Mediterranean Sea, the South China Sea, and the Caribbean Sea. 

Have you ever wondered just how much salt is in there? It is estimated that there is one cup of salt for every gallon of water. The deepest part of any ocean biome in the world is the Mariana Trench. It is 36,200 feet deep. It is amazing to think that the deepest point in the water is longer than the tallest point we have on land! 

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of all ocean biomes in the world. It is 64 million square miles. The ocean biome at the greatest risk of problems for plant and animal life is the Atlantic Ocean. It is half the size of the Pacific Ocean but it is the one that has the most traffic. Cargo ships carry imports and exports between Africa, America, and Europe. 

Ocean Biome characteristics 

There are three layers to recognize in any ocean biome. The top layer is the euphotic and this is where the water is very shallow. Light is able to reach from the top of the water to the bottom of it for this particular layer. In the middle is the disphotic layer and it allows some light to get to the bottom of it. The appearance from the bottom looking up would be similar to how twilight appears. 

The deepest layer of the ocean biome is the apotic layer. It is very deep and light is not able to reach the bottom of it. The water is dark and murky in that area. The temperature of the water will also vary based on the layer that you are talking about within the ocean biome. What is also very interesting is that more than half of all the rainfall that occurs in the world is right there over these various ocean biomes. 

The average temperature of any ocean biome is 39 degrees. However, that can change based on the depth of the water, the wind, and if the sun is shining or not. In many areas of the Artic Ocean, it is covered with thick layers of ice for most of the year. The water in an ocean biome is always moving. The warm water is moving from the tropics and the cool water is moving from the poles. 

The tide of every ocean biome will be altered twice a day. It is really an interesting phenomenon. It can affect the movement patterns and eating habits of the animals that live in such a biome. The pull of the sun and the moon will affect the times of the tide changes as well as the severity of them. 

Ocean Biome Flora and Fauna 

The types of life that live in the ocean biome are extremely diverse. It is believed that this is the biome where live actually began. There are tons of types of fish found in the ocean biome. They include Angelfish, Blowfish, whales, and an assortment of sharks. You will find Octopus and crab living here. 

For many of the large animals that live in the ocean biome, they help to keep it balanced for all of them. They consume many of the smaller animals so that they don’t get over populated. Since the temperatures in any ocean biome can be very cold, they have been able to adapt. For example whales have thick layers of fat known as blubber. This helps them to keep their body temperature where it should be. 

The Blue Whale is the largest mammal in the world, and belongs to the ocean biome. Due to the enormous size of such an environment though these animals have plenty of room to move around and thrive. There are millions of types of aquatic life found in the ocean biome. It is amazing to compare some of the single cell microorganisms there to the size of the Blue Whale. 

The corral is very active in the ocean biome. Jellyfish may be found as well as lobster and turtles. What you will find really depends on the area of the ocean biome. Some of these living things are close to the surface. Others remain deep down in the murky waters so they are rarely seen. There are animals in the ocean biome that live close to shore and those that are many miles from land. 

Ocean Biome: Importance and threats 

Due to the enormous size of the corral reef within the ocean biome, it has been classified as its own specific biome. It may surprise you to discover that there is a great deal of variety in the corral habitats. They are a very important entity though to any ocean biome. 

If you don’t think the ocean biome is extremely important you need to pay close attention. Oxygen is essential for all living things including humans. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to survive in any given biome in the world. The ocean biome is home to kelp and phytoplankton. They offer 50% of the oxygen that all living things in the world depend on! 

Problems including the recent BP oil spill though continue to threaten the future for many plants and animals in the ocean biome. The long term effects of such damages from that oil spill won’t be known until well into the future. Even with all the efforts that have been implemented for rescue and clean up, the damages to what lives in the ocean there has already occurred on many levels. 

Scientists have identified and categorized more than 1 million different types of plants and algae in the ocean biomes. It is believed that thousands more of them are out there that haven’t been identified yet. Most of them are believed to be in the apotic layer. How is it possible that we can’t identify them all yet? 

It can be very risky for humans to be at that depth of water. This is due to the changes in the environment and pressure. It is also very dark down there which can make it dangerous. Plus, with various types of creatures including sharks it can be too big of a risk. There are also volcanoes, mountains, and trenches in the depths of the oceans that make it hard to find what is living in them.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is swimming underwater using SCUBA - Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Using a cylinder of compressed gas to breathe (usually air, but sometimes other gases), scuba divers can stay underwater much longer than would be possible by just holding their breath - for hours or even days!

With the assistance of equipment such as scuba masks, breathing regulators, buoyancy devices, fins, and gauges scuba divers can explore the underwater world. Modern scuba diving is very safe and easy to learn. All basic skills can be learned in as little as three days.

Scuba diving is a sport that is practiced recreationally all around the world and can even be a profession. There are many diving jobs such as recreational divemaster and instructor, commercial diver, police diver, scientific diver, and military diver.

Why do people scuba dive?

For some it's the beauty of the reef and the marine life that inhabits it, for others it's the thrill of discovery deep inside a wreck or cave - everyone has a different reason for scuba diving, but most would agree that it's for the sheer enjoyment of experiencing the underwater world, a world so far removed from ours that it will truly amaze you. Whether you want to relax while photographing brightly colored tropical fish, be thrilled by the power and grace of a school of sharks, or make a living working underwater, scuba diving has it all.

Who can scuba dive?

The simple answer is - almost anyone. Scuba divers are aged from 8 years and over and come from all walks of life. Here are some basic considerations:

Age

Children as young at 8 years old can start diving with programs taught in the safety of shallow water and aimed specifically at young children. From the age of 10 years old children can be certified as Junior Open Water Divers and those 15 years and older can be certified as Open Water Divers. There are no upper age limits.

Health 

You need to be in a state of good health. This doesn't mean you need to be super-fit, but you have to be free of any serious medical problems. You'll answer a medical questionnaire when you sign up for a course and if you or your instructor have any concerns you will be referred to a medical doctor for assessment. You will also need to be able to swim and float or tread water.

Disabilities

Scuba diving is accessible to people with physical disabilities. Many instructors are trained to provide courses tailored to physically challenged divers and there are diving societies whose primary goal is to facilitate and promote diving for physically challenged people.

What types of scuba diving are there?

There are many types of scuba diving which means there's always something new to do and see. Here are the most popular types:

Recreational

Most divers are recreational divers and this is the form of diving that is devoted to having fun. Some divers love looking at fish and coral, but there are also many specialized areas of scuba diving. After Open Water certification you can complete courses in all sorts of specialises including, but not limited to: night diving, wreck diving, deep diving, navigation, fish identification, underwater naturalism, photography, videography, cave diving, ice diving, altitude diving, and rescue diving.

Technical

Some recreational divers want to explore the marine world even further than recreational diving equipment and training allows. Technical diving encompasses areas such as extreme deep diving, advanced wreck diving, and advanced cave diving. Technical diving is for very experienced recreational divers and requires specialised training and equipment.

Commercial

Commercial divers scuba dive for a living. They build underwater structures such as oil platforms, carry out underwater maintenance, conduct surveys, create maps, participate in salvage operations, and work in many other diving related occupations.

Military

Military diving is similar to commercial diving but also involves such tasks as underwater surveillance, mine clearing, and military research. Military divers and scientists have historically been responsible for most advances in dive equipment and dive medicine.

Where do people scuba dive?

You can scuba dive anywhere you can find water. Over two-thirds of the planet is covered by water, so you can dive almost anywhere. Tropical coral reefs tend to be most popular amongst recreational divers but there are also many wonderful things to be found in cold water environments such as lakes, rivers, and quarries.

Divers can be found in all corners of the globe from the tropical reefs of the Caribbean and the Great Barrier Reef, to the world's biggest lake in Siberia - even under the ice of Antarctica. While most dive shops and resorts operate in warm tropical environments it's also common to find local dive centers and dive clubs in most cities around the world - even inland cities with no water.

Dead Sea

The water in the Dead Sea is extremely salty, and has been estimated to be the second saltiest major body of water in the world. Its name is derived from the fact that the water is far too salinated for marine inhabitation. 

The Dead Sea is naturally endorheic (no outlet streams) with the Jordan River being its only major source. The northern part of the Dead Sea receives scarcely 100 mm (4 inches) of rain a year; the southern section receives barely 50 mm (2 inches). Due to the man-made reduction of the Jordan River (the river waters are 70-90 % used for human purposes) and the high evaporation rate of the Dead Sea, the sea is shrinking. All the shallow waters of the southern end of the sea have been drained and are now salt flats. 

Although the Dead Sea would never entirely disappear (because evaporation slows down as surface area decreases and saltiness increases), measures are currently being proposed to siphon water from the Red Sea through a series of tunnels or canals in order to replenish the rapidly shrinking waters and provide water and electrical solutions to the surrounding countries.

 

Climate 

The climate at the Dead Sea varies depending on the season. Temperatures during the tourist season can become extremely warm, ranging from 30°C (86°F) in the spring to upwards of 40°C (104°F) in the summer. The area receives an average of 330 days of sunshine per year, with rainy days occurring only during winter (if at all). 

Although the Dead Sea is very sunny the low altitude and extra atmosphere makes the sunlight weaker. It is therefore said that sunbathing here carries a lower risk of sunburn, but it is still advisable to take normal precautions using sunblock and adapt gradually. This quality of the Dead Sea sunlight is the real secret behind its mythological curing ability for several diseases, especially skin diseases. This is, in fact, natural phototherapy. 

Caution: During winter and spring there is a danger of floods on rainy days. The Dead Sea basin receives rainwater from relatively far-off areas like the Jerusalem Mountains. This means that sometimes during a sunny day a flood will suddenly and unexpectedly occur. Therefore, be careful when hiking to distant narrow places during these seasons and stay tuned to the weather news. The weather forecast always gives warnings if there is a possibility of flooding. Always do as national reserves staff order - they know the terrain very well. In 2007, several Israelis who had been "snappling" (rappelling) were killed by a flood because they did not obey national reserve staff orders. 

INTERESTING SITES 

The area of the Dead Sea is one of the most special and popular places for tourists visiting Israel. An hour-and-a-half drive from the northernmost point (near Jerusalem), to the southern one (on the road to Eilat), allows you to explore a primal desert, simple and almost untouched, surrounded by the wonders of nature. 

When you arrive at the Dead Sea, on a family tour, on a romantic vacation, or simply to hang out with friends, there are always plenty of possibilities to make the best out of this unique piece of land. 

Here's a brief description of three sites to visit when you come to the area of the Dead Sea: 

Arugot stream & David stream 

Two wonderful streams in the area of Ein Gedi, at the middle of the Dead Sea, invite you to hike by foot and enjoy freshwater waterfalls and magnificent desert plants. The walk lasts a few hours and is not difficult. Suitable for everyone. Minimum age: three. 

Metzokey Dragot observation point

About 15 miles south from Almog junction, at the northernmost point of the Dead Sea, you can find a breathtaking spot, Metzokey Dragot, which means “the Dragot cliffs”. Drive for a few minutes and you're up high above sea level, arriving at a spot that gives you the opportunity to see almost the entire Dead Sea and the red Jordanian mountains facing it. It is indeed one of the most amazing sites in Israel. By the way, this area also offers B&B. 

Ein Gedi botanical gardens

In the middle area of the Dead Sea, there is a small settlement offering many attractions to visitors to the area. One of them is a visit to the natural botanic gardens that were built by pioneers in the area. Thanks to the special minerals in the air, the garden contains plants from all over the world. It is truly an amazing "must-see" site. 

Naturally, there are many more sites to visit, such as Masada, Ein Fashha, Mineral beach, the Dead Sea scrolls etc. 

Make sure your plan is appropriate for the season. In the summertime, temperatures can get up to 40°C (104°F), which means that, between 10am and 4pm, it's best to stay somewhere cool.