Marine Biology: Ocean Life and Ecosystems

Definition and Scope of Marine Biology

Marine biology is the scientific study of marine life and the organisms that inhabit oceans and other saltwater environments. Unlike taxonomy-based biology, it classifies and investigates organisms according to their marine environment, including species that may have close relatives living on land. Its scope ranges from microscopic phytoplankton, bacteria, viruses, and zooplankton to invertebrates, fish, reptiles, seabirds, marine mammals, algae, and marine plants. Marine biology also examines how these organisms interact with one another and with physical, chemical, and geological features of the ocean. The field covers an immense variety of habitats, including intertidal zones, estuaries, coral reefs, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, mangroves, seamounts, hydrothermal vents, the open ocean, the sea floor, and deep-ocean trenches. It addresses marine ecosystems, biodiversity, organismal adaptations, food webs, life cycles, distribution, conservation, climate regulation, nutrient and carbon cycling, and the effects of human activities. Marine biology is closely related to biological oceanography, ecology, fisheries science, marine conservation, marine chemistry, and physical oceanography, and it has practical importance through contributions to food, medicine, biotechnology, tourism, climate regulation, and other ecosystem services.

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Marine Habitats and Environmental Zones

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