The Deep

A. The Environment 1. Abyssalpelagic and hadylpelagic depths (200 m to 10,00 m) 2. Pressure 100 times greater than at the surface. 3. Temperatures barely above freezing. 4. Total darkness.

Being transparent makes this squid and crustacean nearly invisible. B. The Organisms 1. The environment has been relatively stable for 100 million years so the organisms have not needed to adapt or change. Being transparent makes this squid and crustacean nearly invisible.

2. Sparse populations survive on minimal food. a. marine snow: organic debris sinking from surface. b. vertical migrators (1) organisms that travel up and down in the water column (2) travel up for food and down for protection Deep sea shrimp migrate 400m each day!

c. whale-fall communities (1) Dead whales fall to the sea floor. (2) Provide a food source that creates a temporary (about 1 year) ecosystem.

C. The Adaptations 1. Feeding a. Chemosynthesis (1) Found near hydrothermal vents. (2) Done by producers (autotrophs) that can break down large molecules to obtain the energy from their molecular bonds. (3) Does not require sunlight.

b. Consumers (1) Large teeth and large stomachs allow fish to eat as much as they can whenever possible. (2) Slow metabolisms allow these organisms to exist on very little food and at cold temperatures. This also allows them to live much longer (hundreds of years).

2. Bioluminescence a. Commonly found in organisms between 1000 and 8000 feet. b. Created by symbiotic bacteria or bioluminescent organs.

c. The process: (1) Oxygen is added to the protein Luciferin. (2) The enzyme luciferase combines with ATP to break down the protein. (3) This reaction produces chemical energy in the form of light (mostly red, blue or green).

(1) Camouflage: takes the place of counter-shading. d. Uses (1) Camouflage: takes the place of counter-shading. (2) Mate recognition: males flash like fireflies. (3) Attracting prey. (4) Defense (5) Seeing in the dark.