The zone nearest to the surface of the water is called the sunlit zone. This is the only place in the ocean where plants can be found. They manufacture organic materials (food) from inorganic materials like water, carbon, dioxide and nutrients using sunlight as their source of energy to produce food. Plants produce their own food and are therefore called producers.
Animals can be found on every depth of the oceans although there are greater pockets of marine life nearer the surface where food is plentiful. Animals obtain food from their environment and are known as consumers. In the end, all food, no matter what it is, is dependent on plant production of organic materials.
