The Abyssal Plain

Comprising approximately 1/3rd of the area of all of the combined oceans, these plains are "flatter than a pancake". The abyssal plains of the deep sea consist of an area comparable to the combined area of land mass on Earth. So, what organisms have evolved there? Answering this would reveal one of the most abundant, and thus successful, life history strategies on the planet.

Abyssal Plains

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs have survived millions of years but are threatened by a wide variety of modern problems. Among the most diverse of Earth's habitats, coral reefs support a multi-billion dollar a year global tourism industry. How can we possibly save them from such a broad array of threats?

Estuaries

Estuaries are highly variable habitats and are among the most biologically productive and species rich on planet Earth. Physical and chemical variability over time is the norm inherent in these ecosystems. Here, freshwater meets saltwater and organisms must adapt to cope with this ever changing environment. Great Bay is among the most famous.

Hydrothermal Vent Communities

Some of the strangest forms of life on planet Earth may be found here. These organisms are capable of withstanding immense temperatures and pressures and use toxic chemicals at the base of their food webs. These may be among the oldest extant groups of organisms anywhere, being served a strict diet from the chemistry of inner Earth, in the complete absence of sunlight.

Summary