Page 171 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

DEEPEST OCEAN POINTS ZONES OF THE OPEN OCEAN 169
The column below shows the average
depth (yellow band) and greatest depth
(red band) of the oceans and some of the The Sunlit Zone
world’s seas. The sunlit zone is the range in which there is enough sunlight
Marine Life for photosynthesis. The ocean absorbs different wavelengths
North Sea
average depth 308 ft (94 m) of sunlight to differing extents (see p.36). Nearly all red light
• 659 ft (201 m) dolphin Baltic Sea is absorbed within 30 ft (10 m), so red animals look black
greatest depth 1,473 ft (449 m)
• 1,148 ft (300 m) North Sea below this depth. Green light penetrates much deeper in clear
king penguin
water, down to around 330 ft (100 m), and blue light to twice
• 2,230 ft (680 m) greatest depth 2,296 ft (700 m) that. Due to the presence of chlorophyll, phytoplankton
great white shark
• 3,300 ft (1,000 m) Arctic Ocean preferentially absorb the red and blue portions of the light
average depth 3,248 ft (990 m)
sperm whale
spectrum (for photosynthesis) and reflect green light. They can
• 3,937 ft (1,200 m) Mediterranean Sea photosynthesize down to about 660 ft (200 m) in clear water.
leatherback turtle
average depth 4,921 ft (1,500 m)
• 5,183 ft (1,580 m) Caribbean Sea is absorbed more quickly. The accumulations of phyto- and
In cloudy water, the sunlit zone is shallower, because light
elephant seal
average depth 4,960 ft (1,512 m)
zooplankton in fertile waters absorb sunlight, reducing the
depth of the sunlight zone. Phytoplankton must stay in the
almost one-third of the total CRYSTAL WATERS sunlit layer during daylight to photosynthesize. Zooplankton
sea-bed area is made up of Crystal-clear tropical waters look idyllic, but the
abyssal plains at around 14,800 ft clarity indicates that there are few nutrients and follows them there to feed, along with animals that feed on
(4,500 m). zooplankton. This zone is dangerous because light makes
therefore few phytoplankton in the water. As a
Atlantic Ocean result, feeding for animals is quite poor. animals conspicuous to their hunters.
average depth 10,925 ft (3,330 m)
Indian Ocean
average depth 12,762 ft (3,890 m)
Pacific Ocean
average depth 14,041 ft (4,280 m)
Southern Ocean
average depth 14,763 ft (4,500 m)

Mediterranean Sea
greatest depth 16,715 ft (5,095 m)
(Hellenic Trough)

Arctic Ocean
greatest depth 18,377 ft (5,601 m)
(Molloy Deep)

Southern Ocean
greatest depth 23,466 ft (7,152 m)
FEEDING IN THE SUNLIT ZONE
The phytoplankton of the sunlit zone is
the food of zooplankton. Larger animals,
Caribbean Sea such as these shrimp, in turn feed on
greatest depth 25,213 ft (7,685 m)
(Caymen Trench) zooplankton. Phytoplankton is at the
bottom of most ocean food chains.
Indian Ocean
greatest depth 25,344 ft (7,725 m)
(Java Trench)
Living in the
DIATOM
Atlantic Ocean Sunlit Zone Diatoms are a very prolific type of
greatest depth 29,404 ft (8,962 m) phytoplankton. Some grow colonially,
(Puerto Rico Trench) attached to rocks in chains or mats. Each
Phytoplankton must remain in the
year, six billion tons of phytoplankton grow
sunlit zone if it is to catch enough
in the oceans worldwide.
sunlight for photosynthesis. This zone
Beyond the abyssal plains, is the warmest and richest in the
undulating, rocky seabed nutrients needed for growth.
stretches down to around
19,700 ft (6,000 m). Only the It would be counterproductive to
ocean trenches reach deeper. expend huge amounts of energy to
stay in this zone, so phytoplankton
has developed a wide range of mechanisms to help it
Pacific Ocean
greatest depth hang there effortlessly. Buoyancy bubbles, droplets of oil,
35,829 ft (10,920 m) or stores of light fats keep some species afloat. Others are
(Mariana Trench)
covered in spines, which increase their surface area and OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS
help buoy them up. Some phytoplankton forms colonial
chains, which produce more drag in water and slow the
ZONES OF LIFE rate at which the phytoplankton sink. One group, called
The different zones of life in the deep ocean are dinoflagellates, have threadlike flagellae that let them ZOOPLANKTON
shown here, together with the depths reached This sample of zooplankton, collected in
by humans and a selection of marine animals. swim weakly. In this highly productive zone, phytoplankton produces a net, includes an echinoderm (bottom
Most life is concentrated above 3,300 ft half of the oxygen in the atmosphere. In temperate regions, phyto- left), a radiolarian, and a crab larva
(1,000 m), where there is some light. plankton proliferates in summer, sometimes forming dense blooms. (center), with a fish egg (bottom right).