Animals That Live In The Different Zones
Squid
Basic Facts About The Twilight Zone
Twilight Ocean (Disphotic) Zone-The middle layer of the world's oceans receives only faint, filtered sunlight during the daytime. This is because the seawater absorbs the sunlight. This barely-lit ocean layer is called the twilight zone or the disphotic zone (disphotic means "poorly lit" in Greek) or the mesopelagic zone (mesopelagic means "middle sea"). This zone appears deep blue to black in color. The depth of this zone depends on the clarity or murkiness of the water. In clear water, the disphotic zone can begin at depths up to 600 feet; in murky water, it can start at only 50 feet deep. It is usually begins somewhere between these two extremes. The disphotic zone extends to about 3,300 feet deep (this is where the aphotic zone begins). On average, this zone extends from 660 to 3,300 feet.
In the disphotic zone, there is enough light to see during the day, but not enough light for photosynthesis to take place, so no plants live in this zone. The amout of light decreases with depth. Because of this, food is not abundant.
The water in the disphotic zone is cold (the temperature ranges from 41 to 39 degrees F) and decreases with depth. The pressure is high -- it can be up to 1,470 psi (pounds per square inch) and increases with depth. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is less than in the sunlit zone.
Below the epipelagic zone is the mesopelagic zone, extending from 200 meters to 1000 meters. The mesopelagic zone is sometimes referred to as the twilight zone or the mid-water zone. The light that penetrates to this depth is extremely faint. It is in this zone that we begin to see the twinkling lights of bioluminescent creatures. A great diversity of strange and bizarre fish can be found here.
The mesopelagic zone is located directly beneath the epipelagic zone. Its range is from 200 meters to 1000 meters. Some other names for the mesopelagic zone are the twilight zone or the midwater zone. Unlike the epipelagic zone, there is barely any light in the mesopelagic zone. It is in the mesopelagic zone that we begin to see the bioluminescent creatures. A great variety of strange and bizarre life forms can be found here. Keep in mind that some animals can live in more than one zone.
The mesopelagic zone is one of the five major vertical divisions of the oceans. The nominal depth delineation of this zone is between 200 and 1000 meters below the ocean surface. Due to the limited sunlight penetration to the depths of this zone, it is frequently termed the twilight zone. The ocean zone above the mesopelagic is known as the epipelagic zone and the vertical region immediately below is the bathypelagic zone. The mesopelagic zone is significant in the diurnal vertical migration of numerous species of small organisms upward to the epipelagic zone; it is also notable for significant carbon storage and vertical movement of large carbon stores downward into the deeper oceans.
Only a small amount of light can penetrate the twilight zone at its depth. As the water becomes deeper, the pressure increases also. Plants do not grow in the twilight zone. Only animals that have adapted to little light can survive. Especially the bioluminescent creatures.
600-3,300 feet* The twilight zone temperature can be as low as 41˚ degrees F. Because there is less light there than in the sunlit zone.
Also known as the mesopelagic zone, this life zone is the is the midwater range and is noted for very low levels of sunlight and virtual darkness for human eyes. This layer ranges form two-hundred meters to about eight-hundred meters down. The plankton, which which occupies the sunlight layer in profusion and provides a food source for most of the creatures living in that layer, either directly or indirectly, does not live in the twilight zone. Plankton needs adequate sunlight to thrive. The types of foods available to animals living at this depth tends to be energy-poor and tends to be characterized by detritus and bacteria, the things that drift down from the creatures in the sunlit zone teeming and thriving at the surface. Most of the sea creatures living in this layer have low energy tissues and sluggish life styles to cope with low food energy, since no algae can grow. Life here is notably sparse the deeper you go.
In the disphotic zone, there is enough light to see during the day, but not enough light for photosynthesis to take place, so no plants live in this zone. The amout of light decreases with depth. Because of this, food is not abundant.
The water in the disphotic zone is cold (the temperature ranges from 41 to 39 degrees F) and decreases with depth. The pressure is high -- it can be up to 1,470 psi (pounds per square inch) and increases with depth. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is less than in the sunlit zone.
Below the epipelagic zone is the mesopelagic zone, extending from 200 meters to 1000 meters. The mesopelagic zone is sometimes referred to as the twilight zone or the mid-water zone. The light that penetrates to this depth is extremely faint. It is in this zone that we begin to see the twinkling lights of bioluminescent creatures. A great diversity of strange and bizarre fish can be found here.
The mesopelagic zone is located directly beneath the epipelagic zone. Its range is from 200 meters to 1000 meters. Some other names for the mesopelagic zone are the twilight zone or the midwater zone. Unlike the epipelagic zone, there is barely any light in the mesopelagic zone. It is in the mesopelagic zone that we begin to see the bioluminescent creatures. A great variety of strange and bizarre life forms can be found here. Keep in mind that some animals can live in more than one zone.
The mesopelagic zone is one of the five major vertical divisions of the oceans. The nominal depth delineation of this zone is between 200 and 1000 meters below the ocean surface. Due to the limited sunlight penetration to the depths of this zone, it is frequently termed the twilight zone. The ocean zone above the mesopelagic is known as the epipelagic zone and the vertical region immediately below is the bathypelagic zone. The mesopelagic zone is significant in the diurnal vertical migration of numerous species of small organisms upward to the epipelagic zone; it is also notable for significant carbon storage and vertical movement of large carbon stores downward into the deeper oceans.
Only a small amount of light can penetrate the twilight zone at its depth. As the water becomes deeper, the pressure increases also. Plants do not grow in the twilight zone. Only animals that have adapted to little light can survive. Especially the bioluminescent creatures.
600-3,300 feet* The twilight zone temperature can be as low as 41˚ degrees F. Because there is less light there than in the sunlit zone.
Also known as the mesopelagic zone, this life zone is the is the midwater range and is noted for very low levels of sunlight and virtual darkness for human eyes. This layer ranges form two-hundred meters to about eight-hundred meters down. The plankton, which which occupies the sunlight layer in profusion and provides a food source for most of the creatures living in that layer, either directly or indirectly, does not live in the twilight zone. Plankton needs adequate sunlight to thrive. The types of foods available to animals living at this depth tends to be energy-poor and tends to be characterized by detritus and bacteria, the things that drift down from the creatures in the sunlit zone teeming and thriving at the surface. Most of the sea creatures living in this layer have low energy tissues and sluggish life styles to cope with low food energy, since no algae can grow. Life here is notably sparse the deeper you go.
Fish
Animals That Live In The Different Zones
Squid