Shallow Seas Ecosystems

Giovanna Bianconi, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

Published online: October 2002

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0003193

Shallow seas are defined as marginal or inland extensions of ocean with average depths of about 200 m. They are also called coastal or neritic waters, and described as those lying landward of 200 m depth. Their contour is known as the continental shelf, and their seaward margin is known as the continental edge, which separates shallow waters from the deep ocean. The area of shallow seas accounts for 7.5% of the oceans, 18% of the land above the sea level, and 3% of the Earth's surface.

Keywords: oceanography; marine biology; ecosystem; shallow sea

Figure 1. (a) Anemonia sulcata. (b) The small fish Amphiprion spp. lives on coral substrates such as A. sulcata.
Figure 2. (a) Corallium rubrum. (b) Astroides calycularis.
Figure 3. (a) Left: Echinaster sepositus; right: Sertella behaniana. (b) Stylocidaris affinis. (c) Holothuria spp. (d) Peltodoris atromaculata.
Figure 4. (a) Millepora dichotoma. (b) Tridacna gigas. (c) Parapriacanthus guentheri. (d) Sea turtle Caretta caretta.
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 References
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 Further Reading
    book Abel PD (1989) Water Pollution Biology. Chichester: Ellis Horwood.
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Related Sub-Topics:

Biogeography and Macroecology | Biomes and Ecosystems | Organisms and the Physical Environment
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Article Title: Shallow Seas Ecosystems
 
How to Cite close
Bianconi, Giovanna(Oct 2002) Shallow Seas Ecosystems. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0003193]