Chapter one - Introduction to marine biology

Abstract

The ocean covers around 75% of the Earth’s surface. This segment has lots of components that are categorized as biotic and abiotic components. Biotic components are biological compounds living within the marine ecosystem, whereas abiotic components are physical and chemical constituents of marine bodies. Biotic compounds survive in various segments of marine biology that are found in different zones of marine water. There are various factors that affect the marine biology interactions like pH, salinity, temperature, density, wave currents, hydrodynamic conditions, turbulence and penetration of light. This chapter gives an introductory note on the marine ecosystem, its components, the nature of marine water and the various physiological parameters that affects the marine biological environment. It is an overview of the type and categories of marine ecology. Additionally the chapter covers the type of biotic and abiotic interactions that are happening inside marine biology.