Amanda and Michelle

• 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.

The open ocean, is part of the

marine biome, and is found all

over the world. Most likely,

wherever there is an ocean,

there will also be an open ocean

zone. In the Pacific Ocean, and

the Atlantic Ocean, there is a

large amount of this biome. It

stretches from where the

nereitic zones end, to anywhere

that there is a deep-sea

zone.The open ocean reaches

from beyond coastal cliffs to the

middle of the ocean.

This biome occupies 71% of the planet’s surface.

There are 5 noticeable seasons in the open

ocean biome. In the southern hemisphere, the

warmest season is December, then May, then

August, then September, and the coldest is

October. In December, the temperature is 8.9

degrees Celsius o n the surface.

As you go down, the temperature decreases.

The surface temperature in May is 8.6 degrees

Celsius. The surface temperature in August is

8.0 degrees Celsius. September’s surface

temperature is 6.8 degrees Celsius. October’s

surface temperature is also 6.8, but it

becomes colder much faster as you go deeper.

However, if you are in the northern

hemisphere, June is your warmest seasons,

and April is your coldest season.

• The main plants found in the

open ocean biome are species

of seaweed.

• Algae

• Phytoplankton

• Kelp

• A great variety of animals inhabit the open ocean biome. They range in size from microorganisms that can only be seen with microscopes and provide the base for many food chains to the mammoth blue whales that can be up to 110 feet long.

• The open ocean is home to thousands of species of fish.

• This biome is also home to numerous species of mollusks such as octopus and squid as well as many mammals including species of whales and dolphins.

• The open ocean is home to numerous types of plankton.

• Whales, sharks, octopus, dolphins, sea cucumbers, squids.