Biotic and Abiotic Components of Marine Ecosystem

Abstract

An aquatic ecosystem is a water-based environment. Aquatic ecosystems include the marine ecosystem and freshwater ecosystems. Two-thirds of the total surface area of the planet is covered by marine water. These ecosystems can be classified into two main categories; i) water/pelagic environment (including; neritic and oceanic zones) and; ii) bottom/benthic environment (including; supra-littoral, intertidal/littoral, and sublittoral zones). Biotic and abiotic factors mean all the living and non-living components of any ecosystem. Biotic factors also include the interactions between organisms and the way they live with or rely on each other. Abiotic factors include all the non-living components, which the living inhabitants rely on to live, grow and thrive. Factors affecting aquatic biomes greatly differ from one water body to the other as the water itself has different properties. Abiotic factors that influence aquatic biomes include light availability, depth, stratification, temperature, currents, and tides.

Keywords: Interactions, Living Components, Non-Living Components, Pelagic, Benthic, Marine Ecosystems.

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