Joseph Kraynak - Oceans For Dummies

FIGURE 4-3:Plankton.

It’s not as though these zones are sectioned off like office cubicles. Plenty of animals roam freely from one zone to another. Animals that need to breathe air, such as sea turtles, dolphins, and whales, generally hang out closer to the surface just so they can get their heads (or noses or blowholes) above water regularly but may dive deep into the other zones to find food. Some deep-sea creatures may do the opposite and venture up from the deep to shallow water for other benefits, such as food, light, warmth, and lower water pressure.

Just below the epipelagic zone is the mesopelagic zone (commonly referred to as the twilight zone ). This is the region spanning 200 to 1,000 meters (650 to 3,300 feet) below the surface, where some sunlight still penetrates, but not enough for photosynthesis. To feed, most animals in this zone move toward the surface. Others eat whatever detritus (table scraps) and organic matter fall from the epipelagic zone, or they just eat their smaller or weaker twilight zone neighbors.

Source: Cristina Mittermeier – www.sealegacy.org

FIGURE 4-4:Sea turtle.

Source: Keith Ellenbogen – www.keithellenbogen.com

FIGURE 4-5:Tuna.

Some animals in this zone have evolved the ability to produce their own light — a trait referred to as bioluminescence (creating light through biochemical processes). Instead of carrying a flashlight to find their way in the dark, they are the flashlight. Although scientists aren’t quite sure about the purpose of this superpower, they think it might be used to ward off or evade predators (see the nearby sidebar on counter-illumination), detect or lure prey (ooh, shiny light!), or communicate with members of their own species.

Life starts to get a bit weird in this zone. Here, you’re likely to start bumping into cool fish like the lanternfish, hatchetfish, and barbeled dragonfish, all of which can produce their own light. You can also find species of bristlemouths (it’s okay, I brought my own toothbrush). These fish, generally no larger than your finger, are not only thought to be the most common fish in the ocean, but also the most common vertebrate on Earth — more abundant than humans, chickens, and rats combined. Let that sink in for a second. Some marine mammals and sharks can also be found here, but most will stay in the mesopelagic only for relatively short periods before returning to the surface. Swordfish (see Figure 4-6), ctenophores (see Figure 4-7) and siphonophores (jellyfish relatives), and firefly squid are other interesting animals that can be found in this zone.

Just below the mesopelagic zone is the bathypelagic zone (also called the midnight zone ), which extends from 1,000 meters to 4,000 meters (3,300 to 13,000+ feet) below sea level. No sunlight penetrates this zone, and the temperature is relatively constant at a very chilly 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit). Animals in this zone prey on other bathypelagic organisms or grab whatever organic matter rains down like manna from above. Some creatures in this zone migrate closer to the surface to feed at certain times of day.

Some bioluminescent sea creatures may use this skill as camouflage, illuminating their soft underbellies to blend in with light coming from the surface, while the tops of their bodies remain dark to blend in with the darkness below them. This application of bioluminescence, called counter-illumination , protects the creature from predators above and below. When predators from below look up, all they see is light. When predators from above look down, all they see is darkness. Take that, camo pants.

Joe Fish Flynn/Shutterstock

FIGURE 4-6:Swordfish.

Source: Schmidt Ocean Institute – www.schmidtocean.org

FIGURE 4-7:Ctenophores.

The creatures that live here are too insane to make up, but they’re not the most colorful — just about everything is black or red, which makes them virtually invisible in water at these depths. (Certain wavelengths are filtered by water faster than others. Because red light has the longest wavelength and is absorbed quickest, once you go deep enough, anything red appears black.)

If you cut yourself diving at around 18 meters (60 feet) deep, your red blood may appear purple and, if you go any deeper, even black. Of course, we’re not recommending that you poke your finger when you’re diving, but if you happen to suffer a small cut underwater at that depth and you’re looking for a cheap thrill … .

Calling this zone their home are the weird and wonderful barreleye fish, giant isopods, viperfish, vampire squid, and anglerfish. Occasionally you can find sperm whales here, and if you’re really, really lucky, you can see one battling a giant squid (of course if you do, take a picture because no one has captured that epic battle on film yet). The deepest diving marine mammal, the Cuvier’s beaked whale, can also reach this zone. This elusive and strange-looking animal holds the record for the longest mammalian dive, plunging up to 3,500 meters (11,480 feet) deep (that’ll make your ears pop) in search of deep-water cephalopods and squid.

Many animals in this zone and deeper have adaptations to allow them to eat almost anything, including prey much larger than them. Gulper eels have specialized jaw structures that enable them to open their mouths incredibly wide (see Figure 4-8). Sharks and their relatives, including the Greenland shark (which can live for 400 years), ghost shark, frilled shark, and goblin shark can sometimes also be found in this zone, as well as the deepest living octopus, the dumbo octopus shown in Figure 4-9 (although some say it can be found at even greater depths).

One step down from the bathypelagic is the abyssopelagic zone (also called the abyss ), extending from 4,000 to 6,000 meters (13,000+ to nearly 20,000 feet) below the surface. Imagine totally dark, near-freezing temperatures (though stable), and super high pressure. For animals adapted to these harsh conditions, the pressure is no problem. Unlike animals with gas-filled organs (such as lungs and swim bladders) that would be crushed at these depths, deep-sea creatures are pretty much made up of tissue and fluid. While the high pressure may limit species diversification, it isn’t the hardest part about living here. The more challenging factor is the scarcity of food.