How do ecologists generally divide the oceans into zones?

Ecologists generally divide the oceans into zones based on factors such as depth, light availability, and distance from shore. The primary divisions include the intertidal zone (where the ocean meets the land), the neritic zone (coastal waters up to the continental shelf), and the oceanic zone (open ocean beyond the continental shelf). Within these zones, further subdivisions may occur based on depth, such as the pelagic zone (open water) and the benthic zone (ocean floor). These divisions help ecologists study marine ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them.