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Zonation
of the Benthal
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Supralittoral:
area just above high water mark, only submerged during storms; otherwise
ocean spray
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Littoral:
intertidal zone between low and high water marks
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Sublittoral:
subtidal zone below low water mark, permanently submerged; extends down
to the continental shelf break (~200 m)
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Below
the shelf break, benthic habitats are classified
into bathyal, abyssal, and hadal zones; all are aphotic. The abyssal zone
is the largest benthic area (75%): temperature 4°C, high hydrostatic
pressure, little food
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