Ocean Life

Ocean Pictures Beach Pictures Ocean Animals Lighthouse Pictures Pictures of Beaches (West Coast)

Ocean life often refers to ocean animals, like horseshoe crabs and whales, that can be found near the beach.

That narrow view of ocean life can be expanded by considering some of the more recent population surveys showing that over fifty percent of Americans live in a coastal county. Surely the human animal enjoys ocean life as much as any crustacean or cetacean.

Human activity along the coast blends economic and recreational activities associated with sun, sand and surf. The links in the box point to pictorial essays covering a variety of sun, sand and surf scenes.

Additional information on animal life in the ocean can be found in the following articles:

• Cooperative Efforts Dealing With Driftnet Fishing
• Types of Sea Turtles
• Types of Sharks to help identify any you might meet at the local beach
• Types of Whales

Because ocean life means beach time for many Americans. The articles:

• 10 Beach Tips
• Beachcombing Tips
• Beach Water Quality
• Beware of Rip Currents
• Coastal Dune Ecology
• Land Based Whale Watching

are offered as a general guide for making your next beach trip more environmentally friendly.

Finally, one of the less inviting aspects of coatal life stems from the fact that the high population densities tend to place stress on local resources and create local pollution zones. The articles, Pros and Cons of Reverse Osmosis Water Desalination, Ocean Pollution and Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Health, explore some of the more common ocean life problems facing coastal residents around the United States.

© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels