Cothurnia limnoriae - NSCEP | US EPA - US Environmental ...

Depth
Table 5: Definitions for the depth categories for benthic and pelagic habitats.
Benthic/Pelagic Depth Class: Depth Class:
Definition
Level 1
Level 2
Benthic Associated with the seafloor.
The terrestrial area immediately surrounding
estuaries and oceans. It is the location of habitats
Coastal Fringe
such as coastal dunes and certain types of
intermittently flooded wetlands (e.g., forested
wetlands).
Area above the high water level that is
Supralittoral
periodically wetted by breaking waves or during
extreme storms. The splash zone.
The zone between the average daily highest high
tide and the average daily lowest low tide. This
Intertidal (MLLW-
zone is periodically submerged by water or
MHHW)
exposed to air. Also referred to as the littoral
zone, though some publications use littoral to
include the shallow subtidal.
Upper Intertidal
Highest intertidal zone, predominantly exposed to
the air.
Mid Intertidal Between the highest and lowest intertidal zone.
Lower Intertidal
Lowest intertidal zone, predominantly submerged
by water.
> 0 – 200m. Subtidal zone extending from the
Neritic
low water mark to the approximate edge of the
continental shelf. Also referred to as the
sublittoral zone.
Shallow Subtidal > 0 – 30m
Deep Subtidal >30 – 200m
>200 – 2000m. This benthic zone is below the
Bathyal
euphotic zone and extends down the continental
slope.
Abyssal
>2000 – 6000m. This zone has a temperature of
4°C or less. It is the largest benthic ocean zone.
Hadal
> 6000m. The deepest areas of the sea, including
ocean trenches.
Pelagic
The estuary or ocean water column and
unobstructed surface. Open water.
Epipelagic 0 – 200m
Surface 0 – 1m
Shallow > 1 - 30m
Deep > 30 – 200m
Mesopelagic >200 – 1000m
Bathypelagic > 1000 – 2000m
Abyssopelagic > 2000 – 6000m
Hadopelagic > 6000m
61