Marine Ecosystems
Marine ecosystems host an incredible diversity of life forms, from microscopic phytoplankton to massive blue whales. At the foundation are primary producers like phytoplankton and seaweeds, which convert
sunlight into energy through photosynthesis, providing food for many marine species and producing about 50% of Earth’s oxygen.
Types of Marine Ecosystems
Scientists divide marine ecosystems into several broad categories, although there are discrepancies about what qualifies to be categorized as a marine ecosystem. Several types of marine ecosystems largely agreed on include estuaries, salt marshes, mangrove forests, kelp forests, seagrass, coral reefs, the open ocean, and the deep-sea ocean.
