The secret of the deep sea ecosystems

The secret of the deep sea ecosystems

The Deep sea, the largest and least understood habitat in the world. It is the mysterious home of a variety of living things that have perfectly adapted to the extreme conditions of the depths. At a depth of 200 to 11,000 meters below the surface of the sea, there is a dark, cold and rocky environment that offers shelter from a fantastic variety of mostly small and sparingly distributed creatures. In this article we will dive into the amazing world of deep sea ecosystems and reveal the secret that it surrounds it.

The extreme conditions of the deep sea

pressure and temperature conditions

The deeper you penetrate into the deep sea, the darker, colder and higher the pressure. The pressure in the deep sea can be up to 1000 times higher than on the sea surface. This corresponds approximately to the weight of 50 jumbo jets. The temperatures in this depth usually vary between 1 and 4 degrees Celsius and can even reach up to 350 degrees Celsius near hydrothermal sources.

light conditions

There are no seasonal changes or daylight cycles in the deep sea. After about 200 meters, known as the "Twilight Zone" or twilight zone, the sunlight can no longer penetrate the water. Beyond the twilight zone, no more sunlight penetrates and thus exists in constant darkness.

adjustments to the deep sea organisms

adjustments to the print

The living beings of the deep sea have surprisingly adapted to the extreme pressure conditions. Many of them have very flexible and foldable body parts that can withstand the extreme pressure conditions. Most deep -sea residents have bones that are poets and harder than those of living things in the flatter water, which helps them to withstand the high pressure.

adjustments to the darkness

The darkness of the deep sea has led to the development of some remarkable adaptations. Many deep -sea residents, such as angler fish, produce their own light through a phenomenon known as a organic lines. This light can be used to hunt, defense against predators, to communicate and to attract mating partners.

deep sea ecosystems

hydrothermal sources

The hydrothermal sources form one of the most fascinating deep sea ecosystems. These "hotspots" are created where the cold sea water penetrates into the earth's crust, is heated and then resigns, with minerals such as sulfur, iron and manganese. The bacteria and archaes that are able to convert these minerals into energy - a process that is known as chemosynthesis - serve as the basis for this ecosystem and supply higher organisms such as mussels, worms and crayfish with food.

deep sea coral reefs

Tiefseecoral reefs are another remarkable deep -sea ecosystem that is not as well known, but is as important as the Phhotic coral reefs. They have existed for millions of years and give many deep -sea residents such as certain fish species, crustaceans and other invertebrates, security and food.

The importance of deep sea ecology

The deep sea ecology is crucial for understanding the biosphere of our planet because it is the largest habitat on earth. In addition, the deep sea is important to understand the global carbon cycle because it represents both a carbon sink and a carbon source.

conclusion

The deep sea, which offers us fascinating insights into the evolutionary creations of life and the limitless diversity of biological organisms, remains largely unexplored despite the latest technology. The challenge for future generations is to continue to explore this mysterious empire and to find a sustainable balance between the preservation and use of its resources.