Salinity
염분
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<speciesfyi-glossary slug="salinity"></speciesfyi-glossary>Definition
The concentration of dissolved salts in water, a critical factor influencing the distribution of marine organisms.
Detailed Explanation
Average ocean salinity is 35 parts per thousand, but varies from near zero in estuaries to over 40 in enclosed seas like the Red Sea. Organisms must constantly regulate osmotic balance — marine fish drink seawater and excrete salt; freshwater fish never drink but excrete dilute urine. Euryhaline species like salmon tolerate large salinity ranges; stenohaline species like coral cannot. Ocean acidification alters carbonate chemistry critical for shell-forming organisms.