Page 141 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

THE SHALLOW SEAS that cover the
continental shelves around Earth’s

landmasses nurture an extraordinary

diversity of life. Energy from the Sun and
nutrients from the land and sea ensure

good conditions for plant growth, on which

all marine life depends. The Moon is also a

key player. Its gravitational pull drives the

tides, which uncover the seashores each
day, creating tidal currents that distribute

plant nutrients and bring food to waiting

animals. Each area of seabed provides a
specific habitat for marine life that has

adapted to the local conditions. The shallow

seas comprise those parts of the oceans

with which we are most familiar; yet we

are only just beginning to understand the
complexity of life there and its importance

to the overall health of the planet.

SHALLOW SEAS

CORAL REEFS
From polar seas to the tropics, the reflective
surface of the sea hides a realm populated
with unfamiliar life forms. Here in the tropics,
animals look like plants, and plants hide
inside the tissues of corals.