Pelagic Zones Flashcards
What are the main pelagic zones from shallowest to deepest?
- Epipelagic
- Mesopelagic
- Bathypelagic
- Abyssopelagic
- Hadalpelagic
What is the Epipelagic zone?
The surface layer, also called the photic zone, where photosynthesis occurs
What is the Mesopelagic zone?
The twilight zone where light decreases and photosynthesis is not possible
What is the Bathypelagic zone?
The midnight zone, completely dark and cold, with high pressure
What is the Abyssopelagic zone?
The abyss, home to few organisms adapted to near-freezing temperatures and extreme pressure
What is the Hadalpelagic zone?
The deepest ocean zone, found in oceanic trenches like the Mariana Trench
What is the depth range of the epipelagic zone?
0 – 200 meters
What kind of life is found in the epipelagic zone?
Phytoplankton, zooplankton, jellyfish, tuna, dolphins, and other large pelagic fish
What is the depth range of the mesopelagic zone?
200 – 1,000 meters
What is a common adaptation of organisms in the mesopelagic zone?
Bioluminescence
What kind of life is found in the mesopelagic zone?
Lanternfish, bristlemouths, squid, jellyfish, and vertical migrators such as some shrimp and krill
What is the depth range of the bathypelagic zone?
1,000 – 4,000 meters
What kind of life is found in the bathypelagic zone?
Deep-sea fish like anglerfish, gulper eels, giant squid, bioluminescent jellyfish, and crustaceans adapted to high pressure
What is the depth range of the abyssopelagic zone?
4,000 – 6,000 meters
What kind of life is found in the abyssopelagic zone?
Invertebrates like sea cucumbers, basket stars, polychaete worms, and some highly adapted deep-sea fish
What is the depth range of the hadalpelagic zone?
6,000 – 11,000 meters
How do organisms survive the extreme pressure of the hadalpelagic zone?
Through specialized enzymes and cell structures that maintain function under high pressure
What kind of life is found in the hadalpelagic zone?
Amphipods, hadal snailfish, microbial extremophiles, and organisms living near hydrothermal vents
