Deep Ocean ZonesDeep Ocean Zones
Earth’s WaterEarth’s Water
Land22%
Water78%
75% - 78% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water.
OceansOceans Contains the largest amount of Contains the largest amount of biomassbiomass
Oceans vary in light, pressure, Oceans vary in light, pressure, temperature and nutrients.temperature and nutrients.
lack of sediments in the water is a key lack of sediments in the water is a key factor for marine species = lightfactor for marine species = light
Open Ocean ZonesOpen Ocean ZonesEuphotic/Epipelagic Zone Euphotic/Epipelagic Zone - surface waters- surface waters
Nutrient-rich waterNutrient-rich water ProducersProducers ““Neritic” Neritic” on continental shelfon continental shelf ““Oceanic” Oceanic” in open oceanin open ocean
Aphotic/ Pelagic Zone Aphotic/ Pelagic Zone - no light (below 650 feet)- no light (below 650 feet)650 ft. – 3300 ft. = 650 ft. – 3300 ft. = mesopelagicmesopelagic3300 ft. – 13,000 ft. = 3300 ft. – 13,000 ft. = bathypelagicbathypelagic13,000 ft. – sea floor = 13,000 ft. – sea floor = abyssopelagicabyssopelagicSea floor – Trenches = Sea floor – Trenches = hadalpelagichadalpelagic
Benthic Zone Benthic Zone - sea floor- sea floor Sessile organisms (attached to sea floor)Sessile organisms (attached to sea floor)
The Open Ocean Photic Zone The Open Ocean Photic Zone The open ocean typically has low nutrient The open ocean typically has low nutrient
levels and supports only the smallest species of levels and supports only the smallest species of phytoplankton (phytoplankton (NeustonNeuston). ).
Still, because of its enormous area, most Still, because of its enormous area, most photosynthesis on Earth occurs in the sunlit top 200 photosynthesis on Earth occurs in the sunlit top 200 meters of the open ocean. meters of the open ocean.
Epipelagic – Open OceanEpipelagic – Open Ocean
fauna include many species of fish and fauna include many species of fish and some mammals, such as whales and some mammals, such as whales and dolphinsdolphins
many feed on the abundant planktonmany feed on the abundant plankton
The Open Ocean Aphotic The Open Ocean Aphotic Zone Zone
The permanently dark The permanently dark aphoticaphotic zone includes zone includes the deepest parts of the ocean. the deepest parts of the ocean.
Mesopelagic (disphotic) ZoneMesopelagic (disphotic) Zone "twilight zone" of the ocean"twilight zone" of the ocean
photic zone abovephotic zone above darkness belowdarkness below
food becomes scarce – some animals food becomes scarce – some animals migrate up to the surface at night to feedmigrate up to the surface at night to feed rely on food that falls down from aboverely on food that falls down from above eat each othereat each other
• sometimes the only things to eat may be bigger sometimes the only things to eat may be bigger than the hunterthan the hunter
developed long sharp teeth,developed long sharp teeth, expandable jaws and stomachsexpandable jaws and stomachs
Big Scale - ambush predator
ctenophore – related to jellyfish cilia can be illuminated
Firefly squidthree kinds of photophores
Hatchet Fishonly a few inches long
Viperfish specially adapted hinged skull
Dragonfish - stomachs hold big meals
Snipeelup to 1.2m
Siphonophores are colonies of animals related to jellyfish best known is Portugese Man of War
Bathypelagic (aphotic) Zone extends down from 1000 to 4000m extends down from 1000 to 4000m only light is from bioluminescent organismsonly light is from bioluminescent organisms
only food is what trickles down from above, or only food is what trickles down from above, or from eating other animalsfrom eating other animals
water pressure at this depth is considerable water pressure at this depth is considerable (~100 – 400 atmospheres)(~100 – 400 atmospheres)
most animals are either black or red in colormost animals are either black or red in color
Narcomedusa
Vampire Squid
Snake Dragon
Angler Fish
Amphi - crustacean
Ctenophore – voracious predator
Deepstaria very slow swimmers, no tentacles, close flexible bells (up to a meter across) around their prey
Big Red grows to over a meter across
Abyssopelagic Zone - the Abyss
4000m to the sea floor
only zone deeper than this is the hadalpelagic zone
areas found in deep sea trenches and canyons
home to pretty inhospitable living conditions
near- freezing temperatures crushing pressures
Deep Water SquidDeep Water Squid
ShrimpShrimp
Deep Sea Smoker - 648°F
BasketstarBasketstar
Sea PigSea Pig
Sea SpiderSea Spider
Winged Sea CucumberWinged Sea CucumberMedussaMedussa
Deep-sea AnemoneDeep-sea AnemoneHydrothermal Vent Hydrothermal Vent
Benthic ZoneBenthic Zone Bottom DwellersBottom Dwellers
Anchor to one spot: Anchor to one spot: barnacles, oystersbarnacles, oysters
Burrow in mud or sand: Burrow in mud or sand: wormsworms
Walk on bottom: Lobsters, Walk on bottom: Lobsters, crabscrabs
Habitats: Habitats:
Intertidal zones, rocky Intertidal zones, rocky shores, tide poolsshores, tide pools
Muddy Sandy communitiesMuddy Sandy communities Deep ocean/ coral reefsDeep ocean/ coral reefs Hydrothermal vent areasHydrothermal vent areas
• archaebacteriaarchaebacteria
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