Layers of the Ocean

Ms. Berteau Science November 20, 2012

Epipelagic Zone

Also called The Sunlight Zone Extends from the surface to 200 meters (656 feet) Where most of the visible light exists Receives enough sunlight to support photosynthesis, which means plants can survive there With the light comes heat, which is responsible for the wide range of temperatures that occur in this zone (from 104 to 27 F)

Mesopelagic Zone

Also called The Twilight Zone Extends from 200 meters (656 feet) to 1000 meters (3281 feet) Only receives faint light Bioluminescent animals begin here Temperatures range from 41 to 39 F The pressure is higher here - up to 1,470 pounds per square inch

Midwater Squid

Krill

Lanternfish Copepods

Bathypelagic Zone

Also called The Midnight Zone 90% of the ocean lies in this zone No light penetrates Extends from 1000 meters (3281 feet) down to 4000 meters (13,124 feet) The water pressure at this depth is immense, reaching 5,850 pounds per square inch. Sperm whales can dive down to this level in search of food. Most of the animals that live at these depths are black or red in color due to the lack of light.

Physonect siphonophores, a colony of specialized polyps found 2,000 meters down in the bathypelagic zone.

Bathypelagic Lizard Fish

Angler Fish

Abyssopelagic Zone

Also called The Abyss remains in perpetual darkness and never receives daylight Extends from 4,000 to 6,000 meters (13,123 to 19,685 feet) Water temperature is near freezing Few creatures live here due to enormous pressure mostly invertebrates such as basket stars and tiny squids Three-quarters of the ocean floor lies within this zone The deepest fish ever discovered was found in the Puerto Rico Trench at a depth of 27,460 feet (8,372 meters).

Deep Water Squid

Sea Spiders Deep Sea Medusa

Basket Stars

Hadalpelagic Zone

Also called The Trenches Extends from 6000 meters (19,686 feet) to the bottom of the deepest parts of the ocean (The Mariana Trench with a depth of 6.831 miles or 36,067.68 feet) Almost entirely unexplored The pressure is an incredible eight tons per square inch approximately the weight of 48 Boeing 747 jets. Invertebrates such as starfish and tube worms can thrive at these depths. As of March 25, 2012 one vehicle, the Deepsea Challenger was able to penetrate to a depth of 10,898.4 meters (35,756 ft).

Mariana Trench

Tube Worms