Deep Sea Habitat Background:
The deep sea includes the deepest, darkest, coldest parts of the ocean. Eighty percent of the ocean consists of waters in the deep sea greater than 1,000 meters in depth. Parts of the deep sea described here are also included in the pelagic zone, but these areas in the deepest reaches of the ocean have their own special characteristics. Most areas are cold, dark, and inhospitable to us humans, but support a surprising number of species that thrive in this environment.
Challenges Faced by Marine Life in the Deep Sea:
- Lack of light: The only available light in the deepest regions of the ocean comes from bioluminescence, which is a chemical reaction in a creature that produces light. In this realm you’ll find fish with large eyes, adapted to taking in any light that appears, and some without eyes, because they have adapted to live without them. Since the available light makes it difficult to find mates, some creatures rely on sense of smell to find others in their species. As new techniques to explore the ocean floor are developed, scientists are discovering more species all the time.
Marine Life Found in the Deep Sea:
As humans adapt to studying the deep oceans by developing more sophisticated submersible vehicles and other equipment, more deep sea species are being discovered.
Marine life found in the deep sea includes the anglerfish, which attracts its prey using a bioluminescent lure, and then quickly snatches it into its huge teeth. It also includes the deepest-living fish, Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis, which lives over 4 miles below the ocean surface and was first filmed in October 2008.
