Thousands of types of plants that live in the ocean provide habitat for marine creatures such as fish and shrimp. As 70% of the Earth is covered with ocean, these plants play an important role in our global ecosystem.

There are four common types of plants that live in the ocean including kelp, which is the largest marine plant in the world; red algae, which is rich in vitamins and proteins and also a popular food source in Asia; gulfweed, a floating ocean plant, and seagrass, a flowering plant which has around 60 species.

Here are some photos of some of the plants that can be found below water.

World Wildlife Day was established by the United Nations (UN) in 2013 to raise people's awareness of protecting wild animals and plants on Earth. This year on March 3, the theme is "Life below water: For people and the planet." In this series, we're presenting the diverse marine lives of China, focusing on the endangered ones such as the Yangtze finless porpoise and spotted seals that are in need of protection by the government, NGOs and individuals.

(Cover image via VCG Photo)