The+Abyssal+Zone

=The Abyssal Zone=

Introduction:
The Abssal Zone, also known as the Abyssopelagic Zone, is the layer of the ocean that touches the ocean basin, or floor of the ocean. The Abyssopelagic Zone is one of the coldest biomes on earth, being at the bottom of the ocean, and because it does not receive much sunlight. The lowest form of the food chain would be like phytoplankton and tube worms that are eaten for energy or convert minerals into energy. The creatures that live in this biome have had to adapt to extreme conditions due to the cold, dark, and highly pressurized environment. A trip to this part of the ocean takes specialized equipment that would be able to sustain high pressure to keep the submarine from collapsing into itself.

Geographic Regions and Abiotic Factors:
The abyssal zone is found beneath the benthic zone, it is 6,560- 19,680 feet deep. The deep sea temperature averages between 2-4 degrees Celsius. The animals in this sea have to be physically adapt to withstand the pressure and also to gain a chance in order to reproduce. Also located in these deep regions are hydrothermal vents. The abyssal plain within the zone is made up of sediment, volcanic ash, chemical precipitates and some wind blown dust. This part of the ocean is a very deep barren part and is hard for species to exist under the conditions of pressure and lack of variety for species to eat however there are various types of fauna that exist within the abyssal zone. These plains are created when the melted crust is forced up by the asthenosphere layer, the basaltic material hits the surface of mid ocean ridgesand new crust forms. Then fine grain sediments blanket over forming the abyssal plain.

__﻿Flora:__
Abyssal zone is the most coldest area and has the most pressure. Thou, no sunlight reaches in the abyssal zone there still lives various kinds of fish species and plants. Some kinds of vegetation that grow there are phytoplankton, and algae. Many animals rely on phytoplankton for they existence. Not many plants grow in the abyssal zone because there are not enough sunlight reaching to the plant, and the plants are not able to photosynthesis.

Hyrothermal Vent In the Abyssal Zone.

Fauna:
The abyssopelagic zone is home to some of the most exotic of organisms on this planet. These organisms, to survive in the conditions of the ocean floor, have had to adapt in peculiar ways. Just to name a few of these creatures, there is the Cryptopsaras couesi (anglerfish), Eurypharynx pelecanoides (umbrellamouth gulper), Anoplogaster cornuta (the fangtooth), Grammatostomias flagellibarba, Vampyroteuthis infernalis (the vampire squid from hell), the Harriotta raleighana (long-nosed chimaera), etc. Some of these adaptations involve larger eyes to intake more light and hunt based on light contrast, production of bioluminescent light which is a chemical reaction in the body of the organism to produce a low level light as an artificial light, acute sense of smell that helps with sexual reproduction, soft and flabby bones and muscle tissue to bear the excess pressure, the development of a large stomach to contain food which is scarce at the bottom of the ocean, etc. The Vampyroteuthis infernalis is an exceptional predator. The adaptations this organism has developed to live in this biome are larger eyes, having a body with no excess cavities, like a swim bladder, and having bioluminescent pockets on the ends of its body to attract prey, and even help with attracting mates. To catch its prey, the Vampyroteuthis will light up the bacteria in its pockets to lure prey. After being drawn by the bioluminescent lights, when they are within range, the Vampyroteuthis attacks and ingest its prey. And that is only one of the fascinating creatures of this biome that use this technique to acquire prey.

Voyage To The Abyssal Zone:
== The abyssal zone can be reached by a machine called a(n ) //S//  // ubmersibles // //Alvin////.// This machine was tested back in 1964, it went down to 6,820 feet. The Submersibles Alvin is only a three person sub but now there are plans about making a new Alvin that will be better improve, which means that it will reach more feet down, up to 21,320 ft and it might be done in 2011. Alvin was owned by the U.S Navy but it was controlled by the national ocean science community and it has dove more then 4,200 times. This machine has been useful because it has discovered giant tubeworms on the Pacific Ocean. == =﻿=

Citations:
[|http://fishindex.com] [|http://www.ceoe.udel.edu.html] [] [] [] []