Marine Life, Mountains Away

By Katie Sheahan | April 1, 2026

Even far from the coast, the ocean touches our lives. From the rivers we swim in to the air we breathe, marine ecosystems shape our planet in ways we sometimes overlook. For landlocked communities, understanding marine life can feel distant. These stories show how we can connect to the ocean, even from 8,000 feet above sea level.

Vessel sitting atop the ocean with vibrant coral reef under the surface

Why Marine Ecosystems Matter

The ocean might feel far away, but its influence stretches everywhere. From regulating our climate to supporting the food we eat, oceans are the engine that keeps life on Earth running.

• Biodiversity: The ocean is home to hundreds of thousands of species, many still undiscovered. Every species plays a role in keeping ecosystems in balance (Mora et al. 2011).

• Climate Regulation: Oceans absorb carbon dioxide and influence global weather, helping stabilize our climate (Gruber et al 2023, Watson et al. 2020).

• Oxygen: Tiny phytoplankton produce 50 to 80% of the oxygen we breathe (Falkowski 2012).

• Economic Resources: Fisheries and ocean-based tourism provide livelihoods for millions worldwide. Sustainable practices ensure these resources last (FAO 2024).

• Cultural Significance: For centuries, coastal communities have learned from the ocean, shaping traditions, stories, and ways of life (Alexander 2019).

Even inland, we rely on these systems, from the air we breathe to the food we eat and the water we drink.

Stories from Sea to Summit

Living inland doesn’t mean being disconnected from marine life. Rivers, lakes, and local conservation efforts link landlocked communities to the ocean in surprising ways.

• River Connections: Many rivers eventually flow to the sea. Take the Missouri River, a tributary of the Mississippi leading to the Gulf of Mexico. Local initiatives like Missouri River Relief organize clean-ups and teach communities how protecting rivers helps ocean ecosystems.

• Pollution Travels: Even if a plastic bottle never reaches the ocean, it breaks into microplastics that end up in rivers, soils, crops, and even our bodies. Metals and medications can accumulate in river life and make their way into oceans, affecting top predators like sharks. Case studies from Boulder, CO, show how estrogen from human waste disrupted local fish populations (Linenfelser et al. 2007), a stark reminder that our actions ripple outward.

Plastic waste in Miami

Bringing the Ocean Inland

Here are some ways to explore marine life, even if you don’t live on the coast:

• Educational Programs: Organizations like the Butterfly Pavilion, The Denver Aquarium, Ocean First Institute, and Fins Attached bring marine biology to classrooms and communities across Colorado.

• Hands-On Learning: Students inspect freshwater invertebrates, explore watersheds, and participate in river clean-ups.

• Citizen Science: Platforms like iNaturalist, Budburst, and the Denver EcoFlora Project let volunteers contribute to research while connecting local ecosystems to global patterns.

• Virtual Exploration: VR programs from OceanX and other platforms allow users to swim through coral reefs, observe marine research in action, and explore the deep sea from their living room.

These experiences make the ocean accessible and tangible, even for landlubbers.

Visitors explore an aquarium

The Impact of Climate Change

Climate change doesn’t respect geography. Rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and habitat loss affect marine life everywhere:

• Coral Bleaching: Warmer waters stress corals, making them more vulnerable to disease (Hughes et al 2018).

• Species Migration: Fish and marine mammals shift ranges to find cooler habitats, disrupting ecosystems (Poloczanska et al 2013).

• Ocean Acidification: Increasing CO₂ makes it harder for shellfish and corals to build skeletons, impacting entire food chains (Doney et al. 2022, Kroeker et al. 2010).

• Habitat Loss: Coastal development and pollution destroy mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, which are essential habitats for countless species (Duarte et al. 2013).

Even landlocked communities are connected to these issues through rivers, watersheds, and shared climate impacts.

Bleaching coral in the Caribbean

How Landlocked Individuals Can Make a Difference

Being inland doesn’t mean standing on the sidelines. Everyone can help:

• Choose Sustainable Seafood: Support fisheries that prioritize ocean health. Look for MSC certification or use the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch app.

• Advocate for Clean Water: Rivers and lakes feed the ocean. Support local clean-ups and policies protecting water quality.

• Educate Others: Share what you know about marine ecosystems and conservation. Small conversations create ripple effects.

Join Citizen Science: Participate in projects that monitor wildlife, document biodiversity, or track water quality. Every observation counts.

Locally harvested oysters in Washington

From Here to the Sea

Understanding marine life from a landlocked perspective is essential. By exploring rivers, engaging in education, and using technology, we can connect to the ocean and take action for its health. Our choices at home ripple outward, impacting ecosystems thousands of miles away. Whether through clean water initiatives, sustainable choices, or community science, we all have a role to play. Even far from the coast, we can help keep the ocean alive, vibrant, and thriving.

Mountain lake ecosystem

Alexander, K. A. (2019). Conflicts over marine and coastal common resources: causes, governance and prevention. Routledge.

Doney, S. C., Fabry, V. J., Feely, R. A., & Kleypas, J. A. (2009). Ocean acidification: The other CO₂ problem. Annual Review of Marine Science, 1, 169–192.

Duarte, C. M., Losada, I. J., Hendriks, I. E., Mazarrasa, I., & Marbà, N. (2013). The role of coastal plant communities for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Nature climate change, 3(11), 961-968.

Falkowski, P. (2012). Ocean science: the power of plankton. Nature, 483(7387), S17-S20.

FAO (2024). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Gruber, N., Bakker, D. C. E., DeVries, T., Gregor, L., Hauck, J., Landschützer, P., McKinley, G. A., & Müller, J. D. (2023). Trends and variability in the ocean carbon sink. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4, 119–134.

Hughes, T. P., Kerry, J. T., Baird, A. H., et al. (2018). Global warming transforms coral reef assemblages. Nature, 556, 492–496.

Kroeker, K. J., Kordas, R. L., Crim, R. N., & Singh, G. G. (2010). Meta-analysis reveals negative yet variable effects of ocean acidification on marine organisms. Ecology Letters, 13(11), 1419–1434. 

Linenfelser, B. C., Vajda, A. M., & Norris, D. O. (2007, January). ASSESSING ESTROGENIC CHEMICALS IN WASTEWATER AND THEIR EFFECTS ON FISH REPRODUCTION–A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN DISCHARGER AND RESEARCHER. In WEFTEC 2007 (pp. 3144-3160). Water Environment Federation.

Mora, C., Tittensor, D. P., Adl, S., Simpson, A. G., & Worm, B. (2011). How many species are there on Earth and in the ocean?. PLoS biology, 9(8), e1001127.

Poloczanska, E. S., Brown, C. J., Sydeman, W. J., Kiessling, W., Schoeman, D. S., Moore, P. J., & Richardson, A. J. (2013). Global imprint of climate change on marine life. Nature climate change, 3(10), 919-925.

Watson, A. J., Schuster, U., Shutler, J. D., Holding, T., Ashton, I. G., Landschützer, P., & Goddijn-Murphy, L. (2020). Revised estimates of ocean-atmosphere CO2 flux are consistent with ocean carbon inventory. Nature communications, 11(1), 4422.