littoral zone JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/ˈlɪt(ə)rəl zoʊn/ · lit·to·ral zone
noun
- The part of a sea, lake, or river that lies close to the shore, typically extending from the high‑water mark to the point where the water is deep enough that wave action no longer reaches the bottom. The tide pools in the littoral zone are teeming with algae, crustaceans, and small fish.
- The broader coastal region of a continent, including both the intertidal area and the adjacent shallow marine waters. Conservationists are focusing their efforts on protecting the littoral zone because it supports the highest biodiversity of any marine habitat.
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Did you know? The littoral zone hosts more than 80 % of marine species despite covering only a small fraction of the ocean’s surface, making it a hotspot for biodiversity research.