Marine science focuses on the study of saltwater environments, while aquatic science encompasses both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.
Here's a breakdown of the key distinctions:
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Marine Science: This field specifically investigates the oceans, seas, and other saltwater environments. It includes the study of marine organisms, oceanography (physical and chemical properties of the ocean), marine geology, and the interactions between marine life and their environment. A marine biologist, for example, will likely specialize in the genetics, health, and environment of marine organisms.
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Aquatic Science: This is a broader field that includes the study of all water-based environments, both freshwater (rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands) and saltwater (oceans, seas, estuaries). Aquatic scientists may study the biology, chemistry, geology, and physics of these environments, as well as the interactions between organisms and their surroundings. Aquatic biologists can specialize in either freshwater or marine systems.
| Feature | Marine Science | Aquatic Science |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Saltwater environments only | Freshwater and saltwater environments |
| Environments | Oceans, seas, estuaries | Rivers, lakes, oceans, seas, wetlands, etc. |
| Focus | Marine organisms, oceanography | All aquatic organisms and their environments |
In essence, marine science is a subset of aquatic science. All marine environments are aquatic, but not all aquatic environments are marine. Aquatic science has a broader scope, as it also includes freshwater ecosystems.
