Open Ocean
Open ocean biomes are biomes specific to parts of the ocean with no floor. They can also occur in very large lakes. All have a very low biodiversity level (a Succession Stage of 0) and will be mostly empty. This makes open open biomes great from a programming standpoint, but difficult to live in permanently as a creature. Many open ocean biomes are only stops for Environmentally Transient Organisms. The list of these biomes is complete.
Sunlight Zone
occurs: wherever there is open ocean with no bottom within required elevation
resources: saltwater, sunlight
elevation:0-200 m below sea level
climate: entirely dependant on latitude higher latitudes=colder, lower lat=warmer
topography: required= no topography
biodiversity: 0
autotroph niches: phytoplankton, possibly small to midsize floating plants
heterotroph niches: (all aquatic) tiny herbivores, small filter feeders, midlarge to large filter feeders, tiny carnivores, many small carnivores, midlarge carnivores, midsize carnivores.
other: may share inhabitants with other ocean biomes
Twilight Zone
occurs: wherever there is open ocean with no bottom within required elevation
resources: saltwater, sunlight
elevation:201-1000 m below sea level
climate: moderately cold in most areas
topography: required= no topography
biodiversity: 0
autotroph niches: none
heterotroph niches: (all aquatic) tiny to midsize filter feeders, tiny to midlarge carnivores
other: may share inhabitants with other ocean biomes, dependant on a constant marine snow of detrius. High probability of bioluminescence.
Abyss
occurs: wherever there is open ocean with no bottom within required elevation
resources: saltwater, marine snow
elevation:1001- m below sea level
climate: very cold in most areas, almost 0 celsius.
topography: required= no topography
biodiversity:0
autotroph niches: none
heterotroph niches: (all aquatic) tiny to midsize filter feeders, tiny to midsize carnivores
other: may share inhabitants with other ocean biomes, dependant on a constant marine snow of detrius. High probability of bioluminescence.