1.
Abyssal Zone: A subdivision of the benthic zone characterized be extremely high pressures low temperatures low oxygen few nutrients and no sunlight
2.
Benthic Zone: The marine life zone that includes any sea bottom surface regardless of its distance from shore
3.
Benthos: The form of marine life that live on or in the ocean bottom including marine algae sea stars and crabs
4.
Intertidal Zone: The area where land and sea meet and overlap the zone between high and low tides
5.
Nekton: Organism that can move independently of ocean currents by swimming or other means of propulsion including most adult fish and squid marine mammals and marine reptiles
6.
Neritic Zone: The marine life zone that extends from the low tide line out to the shelf break
7.
Oceanic Zone: The marine life zone beyond the continental shelf
8.
Pelagic Zone: Open ocean of any depth animals in this zone swim or float freely
9.
Photic Zone: The upper part of the ocean into which sunlight penetrates
10.
Phytoplankton: Algal plankton which are most important community of primary producers in the ocean
11.
Plankton: Passively drifting or weakly swimming organisms that cannot move independently of ocean currents including microscopic algae protozoa jellyfish and larval forms of many animals
12.
Zooplankton: Animal plankton