Denizens of the Deep
Beware: not all fish are friends.
Common Profiles
As you made your descent in Atlantis' luxurious Quick N' Speady shuttle, did you notice the ocean blue fading into the ocean black? Or the disappearance of photosynthetic plants around 200 m below the surface? We sure hope you did (if not, we recommend that you see one of our specialists)!
The characteristic abiotic factor of the abyssal zone is its complete lack of light, which begins around 1000 meters below the surface. Through the eons, organisms of the deep have evolved and adapted to cope with this factor. Many of these denizens share an ability to create their own blue light (bioluminescene) and they usually use this power to ensnare their prey and escape their predators. However, the lack of light is not the only abiotic factor that has influenced these organisms.
Another key feature to take into consideration is the increasing water pressure. For every 10 meters of increased depth, the pressure increases 1 atmosphere (atm). Given that the abyssal zone begins around 4000 meters and ends around 11,000 meters, the pressure ranges between 400 atm to 1,100 atm. To put this factor into perspective, air pockets, for example your lungs, can be crushed by the pressure of the abyss, resulting in your demise. (But fear not! We at Atlantis Adventures Co. possess the state of the art technology that will ensure your saftey!) In regards to our friends in the ocean black, they have either developed an exoskeleton that is pressure-resistant or a special protein called "piezolytes" that prevents pressure from manipulating the biomolecular structure of their bodies.
In addition, due to the lack of sunlight at this depth, the water temperature typically ranges from -1° to +4°C. Consequently, the oxygen levels in the abyssal zone remain constant given that cool waters dissolve oxygen at a more stable rate compared to warmer waters. However, in some areas, the oxygen in a particular area can be so dense that the oxygenated water will sink towards the bottom and create a "dead zone." In addition to these abiotic factors, these denizens of the deep also face challenges posed by biotic factors.
For our lonely friends down in the ocean black, finding a mate can be a difficult thing, especially if there is no light. Nonetheless Mother Nature has a soft side for these organisms has given them the ability to glow in the dark (biolumniescene). Unfortunately, there is a downside to this gift of light: predation. Organisms must be wise in using their gift, for too much light will reveal their location to their hungry foes. Due to the vastness of the ocean, density-dependent factors such as population size and disease do not play as critical of a role in this biome. For more information about certain creatures, peruse below.
The characteristic abiotic factor of the abyssal zone is its complete lack of light, which begins around 1000 meters below the surface. Through the eons, organisms of the deep have evolved and adapted to cope with this factor. Many of these denizens share an ability to create their own blue light (bioluminescene) and they usually use this power to ensnare their prey and escape their predators. However, the lack of light is not the only abiotic factor that has influenced these organisms.
Another key feature to take into consideration is the increasing water pressure. For every 10 meters of increased depth, the pressure increases 1 atmosphere (atm). Given that the abyssal zone begins around 4000 meters and ends around 11,000 meters, the pressure ranges between 400 atm to 1,100 atm. To put this factor into perspective, air pockets, for example your lungs, can be crushed by the pressure of the abyss, resulting in your demise. (But fear not! We at Atlantis Adventures Co. possess the state of the art technology that will ensure your saftey!) In regards to our friends in the ocean black, they have either developed an exoskeleton that is pressure-resistant or a special protein called "piezolytes" that prevents pressure from manipulating the biomolecular structure of their bodies.
In addition, due to the lack of sunlight at this depth, the water temperature typically ranges from -1° to +4°C. Consequently, the oxygen levels in the abyssal zone remain constant given that cool waters dissolve oxygen at a more stable rate compared to warmer waters. However, in some areas, the oxygen in a particular area can be so dense that the oxygenated water will sink towards the bottom and create a "dead zone." In addition to these abiotic factors, these denizens of the deep also face challenges posed by biotic factors.
For our lonely friends down in the ocean black, finding a mate can be a difficult thing, especially if there is no light. Nonetheless Mother Nature has a soft side for these organisms has given them the ability to glow in the dark (biolumniescene). Unfortunately, there is a downside to this gift of light: predation. Organisms must be wise in using their gift, for too much light will reveal their location to their hungry foes. Due to the vastness of the ocean, density-dependent factors such as population size and disease do not play as critical of a role in this biome. For more information about certain creatures, peruse below.
Image Gallery
Check out Census of Marine Life
Warning: those who are afraid of the dark should swim away now.
We are not kidding. Swim now or else the giant squid will kidnap you.
We are not kidding. Swim now or else the giant squid will kidnap you.