Marine habitat determining factors

Physical factors are responsible for the existence of many types of habitat. Similarly factors that determine habitat are

• Temperature
• Salinity
• Tide formation
• Current
• Wind
• Wave action
• Light
• Substrate
• Aspect
• Body weight
• Body shape
• Feeding
• Breathing
• Smelling
• Hearing
• Electricity
• Biotic factors

Temperature: As living organisms are made of complex molecules like enzymes which can sustain particular temperature and energy to be active. This shows how warm blooded animals are active than cold blooded animals. It is obvious that water is 800 times denser than air and can cool greatly. Temperature has direct impact on fishes in sandy bottom than predators in rocky area.

Salinity: Marine organisms consume salty water. Salt content is more in river beds. It is less in estuaries and fresh water. Transition of animals from freshwater to sea water is difficult for most of the organisms. The salinity of water animals are more than land animals and humans. Only very few species are found in river mouths due to salinity factor. Salinity results in flotation of animals. An animal in fresh water starts sinking whereas in salt water they float.

Tide formation: As sun and moon force the tidal formation. Only organism that can withstand high temperature in day, lower temperature in night, salinity and dehydration can sustain high ocean tidal waves.

Currents: Currents can be produced by tides, winds and global circulation. Wind over the shore can take off tidal current. Tidal currents causes eddies that can separate different layer as phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Wind: The factor that can harm marine population in intertidal zone as it causes desiccation due to heat and waves. It may cause piling up of sand in shores and beaches.

Wave action: Long run of wave disturbs surface flow layer which may cause short tides called chop or long waves. A long wave has increased tide height.

Light: Light penetration decreases when depth increases. Many marine organisms are found in ocean beds and less in rocky area which is difficult for organism visualization. Especially marine plants require sunlight for its growth.

Substrate: Depending on the type of substrate of marine forms like soft, hard, rocky, coarse, sandy, Shelly, muddy, boulder and smooth varieties of organism exist.

Aspect: Sea shore slope is major factor. In steep slope, water bounces back without energy loss and are not exposed to sunlight. Flat bed receives same type of sunlight all throughout morning and evening.

Body weight and shape: Most of the marine organisms are weightless. For instance whale of more weight. Marine organism shapes matters as it has to resist the water flow.

Feeding, breathing, smelling & hearing: Aquatic animals produce eggs to feed their off springs. Marine organism breathes through gills which are like lungs. Through smells organisms can be detected under the water. As waves are generated in open water sound can be transmitted for longer distance.

Electricity: Electrical energy can be easily conducted as saline water generates electricity.  With their muscles it is possible for an organism to sense electric shock and electric field.

Biotic factors: In case of shallow shore where the resources are less there may be competition between organisms. Grazing of animals by predators is most common. A predator helps in removal of dead organisms. Extreme environmental conditions like earthquake, volcanic eruptions, tsunami, droughts, storms, tornado marine organism adjust themselves to suit the environment.