Welcome to MarineBio!

The ocean gives us life. It gives us oxygen, the rain, food, excitement, wonder, and mystery. The ocean buffers the weather and helps regulate global temperature, manages vast amounts of our pollutants, contains all kinds of amazing creatures, and supports all life on our planet. But—the ocean is just now beginning to be understood and with that understanding comes the increasing realization that the ocean is in deep trouble. Marine conservation efforts are outnumbered by the problems.

MarineBio is here to call attention to those issues and to provide information to inspire the actions necessary to address them.

MarineBio is an evolving online tribute to ocean life, an introduction to marine biology and what you need to know about marine conservation. MarineBio is a nonprofit organization staffed by volunteer marine biologists, students, professors, and conservation advocates working to share the wonders of the ocean realm to inspire education, research and a sea ethic.

We invite you to explore the depths of MarineBio and find out about marine species, ocean conservation, dynamic research, and hourly marine life news.

Get Involved

Join us in our effort to make sure that the ocean's wonders survive and thrive so that we can all live in a world where the wonders don't become memories... together we CAN make a difference. Become a MarineBio Member and join the Plankton Forums »

We invite you to join MarineBio and support our work to bridge the gap between science and conservation. 100% of your membership fee will be used to keep the MarineBio Network growing. Help us expand MarineBio with fascinating facts and captivating photos of marine life, which will help spread awareness about the urgent need for marine conservation.

Marine Conservation
Learn about the problems facing the marine environment, get inspired and help us cultivate a sea ethic. Time is of the essence if we want to ensure the ocean's health for future generations...

A Sea Ethic Find out why we believe a sea ethic is the best solution to the problems faced by the ocean and marine life.	Ocean Dumping Waste in the ocean is detrimental to marine and human health.
Marine Conservation Biology Applying science to marine conservation.	Ocean Resources Tourism, mining, climate buffer... the value of the ocean as a resource is immeasurable.
Climate Change/Global Warming The #1 threat to marine life. What caused it and what must we do now?	Sustainable/Eco- Tourism Eco-tourism can be a really good thing. Find out ways to keep it sustainable.
Sustainable Fisheries The world's major fisheries are being fished above their sustainable yield.	Ways You Can Help? Discover 100 simple things we can all do that will make a difference today and tomorrow.
Biodiversity Biodiversity must be protected to help us understand how life evolves and ecosystems work.	Marine Conservation Organizations Organizations involved and making a difference.
Threatened & Endangered Species Species are decreasing at unsustainable rates.	Essays on Wildlife Conservation Essays on wildlife conservation in North America.
Habitat Conservation Increasing human populations have increased land use and exploitation of marine resources.	Marine Science & Conservation Forums Join us in the forums to discuss marine science and conservation.
Alien Species Aka non-indigenous or invasive species, these creatures can disrupt an ecosystem's balance by multiplying rapidly...	The Future We describe what might happen if the ocean is protected and the possible solutions to protect it.

The Ocean
The ocean is a mystery to many and people will only protect the ocean if they understand it. Here we strive to raise ocean literacy by providing an overview of marine science.

M A R I N E L I F E	O C E A N S C I E N C E
The Creatures Learn about all creatures of the ocean from nanoplankton to blue whales.	Ocean History The processes that have molded the ocean basins over billions of years.
Marine Taxonomy Classification of species into evolutionary relationships. Kingdoms, Phyla, Classes, Orders, Families.	Ocean Chemistry Ocean life is largely made up of the same chemicals that comprise the ocean.
Forests of the Sea Phytoplankton, diatoms, dinoflagellates, algae, sea grasses, and kelp... the flora of the ocean.	Light & Color Sunlight in the sea and its interaction with ocean waters is a very important physical phenomenon...
Coral Reefs Shelter, recreation, medicines, sand... the work of millions of years by millions of coral polyps.	Ocean & Temperature Ocean temperatures play vital roles in regulating our planet's climate and bringing nutrients to marine life.
Zooplankton Billions of tiny animals found throughout the ocean. A key component of marine ecosystems.	Sounds of the Sea Sound travel underwater—the acoustics of the ocean. Can you hear me? Good...
Marine Invertebrates These spineless animals include sponges, cnidarians, worms, mollusks, arthropods and echinoderms.	Currents & Tides The effects and causes of the continuous flow of ocean water and its surface which is always rising and falling.
Marine Vertebrates The backbone of the ocean. From polar bears to the 27,000 species of fishes and counting...	Ocean Geography Five "oceans" - Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern - covering ~71% of the Earth's surface...
Structures & Adaptations to Marine Living Fins, scales, flashing lights...	Geological Marine Tectonic plates to the lives of creatures that exist in the most extreme environments.
Grazers & Predators We're familiar with grazers and predators on land, how do they behave in the sea?	Marine Zones Beaches, intertidal, epipelagic, pelagic, and benthic zones... ecosystems for every imaginable creature.
Marine Life Cycles Fission, budding, eggs that hatch internally, eggs that hatch externally, live births, plankton...	Estuaries, Salt Marshes & Mangroves Vital ecosystems and nursing grounds for marine life.
Symbionts, Parasites, Hosts & Cooperation Every form of interaction between species.	Continental Shelves Where most marine life lives and almost all fishing takes place...
Marine Ecology Marine life habitats, populations and interactions among organisms and their environment.	The Open Ocean Everything outside of coastal areas... the wild blue yonder...
Biotic Structure The way organisms interact within an ecosystem. Food webs vs food chains, tropic levels, Symbiosis, Predators...	Arctic & Antarctic Places of abundant life, lots of ice and the coldest places on Planet Ocean.
Ecological Regulation Complex webs of factors that fit together to form balanced life systems capable of withstanding most changes.	The Deep Sea The cold, dark, deep that makes up 80% of the ocean living space.

Education & Careers

For current and future students of marine science, we provide links to resources, academic institutions and labs offering curricula in the various disciplines related to the study of the ocean and marine life.

Marine Biology Degree Programs in the U.S. »
International Marine Biology Degree Programs »
Marine Biology Laboratories, Institutes & Graduate Programs »

We also offer links to job resources for those completing their studies: Job Resources | Careers & Education in the Plankton Forums

Explore & Discover

We encourage you to explore MarineBio's lighter side and enjoy the quizzes, MarineBio kids, fun facts, ocean mysteries, scuba diving, and submarines!

Deep Resources

Professionals in marine science are an important part of the MarineBio community. The resources provide a convenient clearinghouse of information and links to academic resources including: Relevant journals | Reference books | Online research tools (databases etc.) | Worldwide Marine Conservation Organizations | Aquariums | The Plankton Forums | Hourly News...

Site Map

The Ocean/Marine Science: Marine Life 101 | Tools & Methods | Relevant Journals | MarineBio Downloads

~ Sharing the wonders of the ocean to inspire education, research and a sea ethic ~
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All memberships and contributions are fully tax deductible in the United States.
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Chain Catshark in logo copyright © Richard Ellis.

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