Introduction to Marine Biology 3rd Edition by George Karleskint, Richard Turner, James Small

Exercise 9

Since water has a high thermal capacity, large bodies of water like the ocean have fairly stable temperatures, making it easier for marine organisms to maintain a favorable body temperature. Very cold liquid water is more dense than solid water; therefore, ice floats and water freezes at the surface-not from the bottom up-thus preventing marine organisms from being trapped in ice. Capillary action helps water move in the spaces between sediment particles, providing moisture for infauna. These are just a few of the ways in which the ocean's physical characteristics affect marine organisms.