Deep Sea BiologyDeep Sea Biology

Characteristics and AdaptationsCharacteristics and Adaptations

I. Environmental characteristicsI. Environmental characteristics

A. SunlightA. Sunlight

1. No sunlight1. No sunlight

2. No plants2. No plants

3. Organisms must use other 3. Organisms must use other senses to find food; not eyessenses to find food; not eyes

4. only light in deep sea comes 4. only light in deep sea comes from the organisms themselvesfrom the organisms themselves

bioluminescence – light bioluminescence – light generated generated from a living organismfrom a living organism

B. Pressure – means compressionB. Pressure – means compression

1. measured as atmospheric 1. measured as atmospheric pressure or ATM’spressure or ATM’s

2. at sea level, 1 ATMs = 2117 lbs. 2. at sea level, 1 ATMs = 2117 lbs. per sq. ftper sq. ft

*for every 33 ft or 10 m down *for every 33 ft or 10 m down pressure increases 1 ATMspressure increases 1 ATMs

*so at a depth of 1000ft or 320m *so at a depth of 1000ft or 320m there is 30.3 ATMs = 64,400 there is 30.3 ATMs = 64,400 lbs/ftlbs/ft

*at 30,000 ft or 10,000m = 909 ATMs *at 30,000 ft or 10,000m = 909 ATMs = = 1,250,000 lbs.ft1,250,000 lbs.ft

3. Liquid can withstand compression, 3. Liquid can withstand compression, air air cannot cannot

(so lungs will implode at great (so lungs will implode at great depths)depths)

4. Pressure in the ocean is exerted 4. Pressure in the ocean is exerted evenly evenly in all directionsin all directions

5. Pressure does effect the distribution of 5. Pressure does effect the distribution of organismsorganisms

further down in the ocean, the further down in the ocean, the fewer crittersfewer critters

6. How can animals live that deep?6. How can animals live that deep?

a. most animals from deep were dead a. most animals from deep were dead by the time they reach the by the time they reach the

surface surface – couldn’t really study them– couldn’t really study them

b. deep sea critters have special b. deep sea critters have special physiology and biochemical physiology and biochemical adaptationsadaptations

c. muscle enzymes very inefficientc. muscle enzymes very inefficient

d. metabolic rates very sluggish – d. metabolic rates very sluggish – slow moving organismsslow moving organisms

e. calcium dissolves after 5,500m e. calcium dissolves after 5,500m so skeleton made of so skeleton made of

something something other than boneother than bone

f. a lot to still learn about survival f. a lot to still learn about survival of of the deepthe deep

C. TemperatureC. Temperature

1. constant temperature = cold1. constant temperature = cold

2. no seasonal changes2. no seasonal changes

3. about 43. about 4ooC except at hydrothermal C except at hydrothermal ventsvents

4. Temp plays important role in 4. Temp plays important role in distribution of organismsdistribution of organisms

5. Critters are slow because of cold 5. Critters are slow because of cold and pressureand pressure

D. OxygenD. Oxygen

1. Oxygen minimum zone – between 1. Oxygen minimum zone – between 500m-1000m has the least 500m-1000m has the least

amount of oxygen in the entire amount of oxygen in the entire oceanocean

2. most deep sea creatures found 2. most deep sea creatures found here, so Ohere, so O22 is used up is used up

quickly quickly through respirationthrough respiration3. Above 500m, has the most 3. Above 500m, has the most

animals in the ocean, but animals in the ocean, but have have plenty of plantsplenty of plants4. below 1000m, fewer animals so 4. below 1000m, fewer animals so

more Omore O22, also lower , also lower metabolic metabolic rates (don’t use up rates (don’t use up the oxygen the oxygen fast)fast)5. Oxygen gets to the deep by 5. Oxygen gets to the deep by

currents and density currents and density differencesdifferences

E. FoodE. Food

1. Food gets to the deep by:1. Food gets to the deep by:

a. sinkinga. sinking

b. currentsb. currents

2. most food gets eaten before it 2. most food gets eaten before it reaches the deepreaches the deep

3. no basis for a food chain: because 3. no basis for a food chain: because no light = no plantsno light = no plants

4. deeper you go less food = smaller 4. deeper you go less food = smaller critters = fewer critterscritters = fewer critters

5. Sources of food for deep sea 5. Sources of food for deep sea creaturescreatures

a. baby deep sea creaturesa. baby deep sea creatures

b. large dead bodiesb. large dead bodies

c. fecal matterc. fecal matter

d. exoskeletond. exoskeleton

6. Must find food6. Must find food

a. use bioluminescence to attract a. use bioluminescence to attract foodfood

b. may have electrical impulses (to b. may have electrical impulses (to detect food)detect food)

II. Adaptations of deep sea AnimalsII. Adaptations of deep sea Animals

A. ColorA. Color

1. fish – gray or deep black, not 1. fish – gray or deep black, not counter-shaded like surface counter-shaded like surface

fishfish

2. invertebrates – deep purple2. invertebrates – deep purple

3. shrimp-like – bright red3. shrimp-like – bright red

4. No light – dark colors hide the critter4. No light – dark colors hide the critter

makes invisible to sneak up on makes invisible to sneak up on prey or hide from predatorsprey or hide from predators

5. Bright red will blend with 5. Bright red will blend with bioluminescencebioluminescence

6. Bottom dwellers are usually clear – 6. Bottom dwellers are usually clear – no pigmentationno pigmentation

B. EyesB. Eyes

1. upper aphotic (200m – 2000m)1. upper aphotic (200m – 2000m)

have large eyes for maximum have large eyes for maximum light collectinglight collecting

2. lower aphotic fish have very small 2. lower aphotic fish have very small eyes or no eyes at all – live in eyes or no eyes at all – live in complete darkness – not like complete darkness – not like you’re going to see anythingyou’re going to see anything

C. Large Mouth – C. Large Mouth –

1. lack of food gives rise to the 1. lack of food gives rise to the adaptation of a large mouth adaptation of a large mouth

in in deep sea animalsdeep sea animals

2. mouth has long teeth that 2. mouth has long teeth that curve curve towards the throat; towards the throat;

3. this ensures what is caught 3. this ensures what is caught doesn’t doesn’t escapeescape

4. mouth is also hinged so animals 4. mouth is also hinged so animals can open mouth twice the size can open mouth twice the size

of of its body to its body to

swallow the prey wholeswallow the prey whole

5. some use a bioluminescent lure 5. some use a bioluminescent lure to attract prey and swallow to attract prey and swallow

themthem

D. Finding a mate D. Finding a mate 1. since the deep sea is so dark 1. since the deep sea is so dark

and has great pressure, it’s and has great pressure, it’s hard for deep sea animals to hard for deep sea animals to reproducereproduce

2. Solution:2. Solution:a. most deep sea critters are a. most deep sea critters are

hermaphroditic – this hermaphroditic – this ensures someone gets ensures someone gets pregnant or in this case pregnant or in this case bothboth

b. Females are usually much larger b. Females are usually much larger than males;than males;

1) The males act as parasites on 1) The males act as parasites on the female;the female;

2) The male attaches to the 2) The male attaches to the female female

3) and so the male becomes part 3) and so the male becomes part of of the female and reproduction the female and reproduction

occursoccurs4) some females have 3 or 4 4) some females have 3 or 4

males males attached to herattached to her

E. Bioluminescence- found throughout E. Bioluminescence- found throughout the entire ocean, but very the entire ocean, but very

important in the deep seaimportant in the deep sea

1. bioluminescence is simply the 1. bioluminescence is simply the production of light by a living production of light by a living organism (fireflies)organism (fireflies)

2. usually blue or green light occurs 2. usually blue or green light occurs (varies from animal to animal)(varies from animal to animal)

3. organs called 3. organs called photophoresphotophores produce the lightproduce the light

4. Or bacteria living inside the animal4. Or bacteria living inside the animal

5. bioluminescence used for three 5. bioluminescence used for three major reasons:major reasons:

a. protection – animals produce a a. protection – animals produce a “blinding” flash and escape“blinding” flash and escape

b. getting food – lures other animals b. getting food – lures other animals close to themclose to them

c. mating – photophores are c. mating – photophores are displayed in certain patterns displayed in certain patterns

(varies from species to (varies from species to species), species),

but acts as an identification but acts as an identification signal signal

F. Deep-sea animals have many F. Deep-sea animals have many adaptations so they may survive adaptations so they may survive their environment of the deep sea; their environment of the deep sea;

still many unanswered questionsstill many unanswered questions..