This article describes design decisions that will be rediscussed before their implementation in the future, and as such are not final.
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, lowe rlat=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 levelT
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.