Hobbies And Interests
Environment
The marine environment is characterized by its distance from shore as well as its depth. Closer to shore, sunlit waters flood the continental shelves. Plant and animal life flourishes here. Farther from shore, the oceans deepen and extend from sunlit environments near the surface through progressively darker regions of extremely high pressures and near-freezing temperatures.
Biology
Photosynthesis occurs in water near the ocean surface and drives the formation of plant life. This process forms the basis of a food chain that sustains progressively larger organisms, including fish and marine mammals. Life is not limited to the upper regions of oceans. Microscopic organisms thrive in the extreme environments of the deepest ocean trenches.
Ecology
Marine organisms are sensitive to changes in their environment. Changes in water salinity, temperature, and ocean currents can affect migratory, reproductive, and feeding patterns. From microscopic plant organisms to the largest living mammals, marine life is diverse but highly interdependent, and subtle environmental changes can generate profound ecological effects.