deep ocean zones

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