Amanda and Michelle • A common belief is that the biome was the first one to exist. More than 3 million years ago the first forms were able to derive from here. • While that is still a debated fact, you can’t help but recognize the importance of the ocean biome. While the water is refreshing to look at and enjoyable to be around, there is so much activity going on within it.  The open ocean, is part of the marine biome, and is found all over the . Most likely, wherever there is an ocean, there will also be an open ocean zone. In the Pacific Ocean, and the , there is a large amount of this biome. It stretches from where the nereitic zones end, to anywhere that there is a deep-sea zone.The open ocean reaches from beyond coastal cliffs to the middle of the ocean.  This biome occupies 71% of the planet’s surface.  There are 5 noticeable seasons in the open ocean biome. In the southern hemisphere, the warmest season is December, then May, then August, then September, and the coldest is October. In December, the temperature is 8.9 degrees Celsius o​n the surface.  As you go down, the temperature decreases. The surface temperature in May is 8.6 degrees Celsius. The surface temperature in August is 8.0 degrees Celsius. September’s surface temperature is 6.8 degrees Celsius. October’s surface temperature is also 6.8, but it becomes colder much faster as you go deeper.  However, if you are in the northern hemisphere, June is your warmest seasons, and April is your coldest season. • The main found in the open ocean biome are species of seaweed. • Algae • • Kelp

• A great variety of animals inhabit the open ocean biome. They range in size from microorganisms that can only be seen with microscopes and provide the base for many food chains to the mammoth blue whales that can be up to 110 feet long. • The open ocean is home to thousands of species of fish. • This biome is also home to numerous species of mollusks such as octopus and squid as well as many mammals including species of whales and dolphins. • The open ocean is home to numerous types of . • Whales, sharks, octopus, dolphins, sea cucumbers, squids.