Eleanor Finch
The mesopelagic zone, also known as the twilight zone, is a part of the ocean that extends from 200 to 1,000 meters (660-3,300 feet) below the surface. It is a region of low light, with distinct variations in temperature, salinity, and density known as the thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline, respectively. This zone is home to a diverse array of organisms, including fish, shrimp, squid, snipe eels, jellyfish, and zooplankton, many of which exhibit bioluminescence. The mesopelagic zone plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, as it is where most of the surface organic matter is respired and transported to the deep sea. Despite its significance, the mesopelagic zone remains a mysterious and challenging part of the ocean to study due to the extreme pressure and limited light penetration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The mesopelagic zone is a part of the pelagic zone, specifically between the epipelagic zone and the bathypelagic zone. |
| Depth | Between 200 and 1,000 meters (660-3,300 feet) below the ocean's surface. |
| Light | Very low light intensity; not enough for photosynthesis. |
| Life Forms | Daytime-visiting herbivores, detritivores, carnivores, fish, shrimp, squid, snipe eels, jellyfish, zooplankton, salps, and many other unique organisms adapted to low-light environments. |
| Migration | Mesopelagic animals migrate to the epipelagic zone at night to feed and return to the mesopelagic zone during the day to hide from predators, a phenomenon known as diel vertical migration. |
| Carbon Cycle | Plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle by acquiring carbon during their vertical migration and transporting it to the deep sea when they die. |
| Temperature | Temperature varies from over 20°C (68°F) at the upper layers to around 4°C (39°F) at the boundary with the bathyal zone. |
| Salinity | Salinity varies between 34.5 and 35 psu. |
| Density | Density ranges from 1023 to 1027 g/L of seawater. |
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What You'll Learn
The mesopelagic zone is a part of the pelagic zone
The mesopelagic zone extends from 200 to 1,000 meters (660-3,300 feet) below the ocean's surface. It is a difficult part of the ocean to study, and very little is known about its microbial community. However, recent work using DNA from seawater samples has emphasised the importance of viruses and microbes in recycling organic matter from the surface ocean, known as the microbial loop.
The mesopelagic zone includes the region of sharp changes in temperature, salinity, and density called the thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline, respectively. Temperature variations are large, ranging from over 20°C (68°F) at the upper layers to around 4°C (39°F) at the boundary with the bathyal zone. The variation in salinity is smaller, typically between 34.5 and 35 psu. The density ranges from 1023 to 1027 g/L of seawater.
The mesopelagic zone is home to a diverse biological community, including bristlemouths, blobfish, bioluminescent jellyfish, giant squid, and many other unique organisms adapted to living in low-light environments. Many of these organisms migrate to the epipelagic zone at night to feed and return to the mesopelagic zone during the day to avoid visual predators, a behaviour known as diel vertical migration. This migration plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, as mesopelagic species acquire carbon during their vertical migration and transport it to the deep sea when they die.
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It is also known as the ''twilight zone'
The mesopelagic zone, also known as the "twilight zone", extends from 200 to 1,000 meters (660-3,300 feet) below the ocean's surface. This area is characterised by low light levels, which make it impossible for photosynthetic organisms to survive. The zone is situated between the epipelagic zone, which receives abundant light, and the bathypelagic zone, which is devoid of light. The mesopelagic zone is a mysterious region that has long captivated the curiosity of scientists, artists, and writers. It constitutes a significant part of the biosphere, occupying about 60% of the planet's surface and 20% of the ocean's volume.
The mesopelagic zone is marked by sharp variations in temperature, salinity, and density, known as the thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline, respectively. Temperature changes are particularly notable, ranging from over 20°C (68°F) in the upper layers to around 4°C (39°F) at the boundary with the bathyal zone. Salinity variations are smaller, typically fluctuating between 34.5 and 35 psu. The density of seawater in this zone ranges from 1023 to 1027 g/L.
The low light conditions in the mesopelagic zone have led to unique adaptations in the organisms that inhabit this region. Many mesopelagic animals are capable of generating light through a process called bioluminescence, which they use for communication and attracting prey. Examples of bioluminescent creatures in this zone include jellyfish-like salps and anglerfish. The zone is also home to a diverse array of other life forms, including fish, shrimp, squid, snipe eels, zooplankton, bristlemouths, blobfish, and giant squid.
The mesopelagic zone plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle. It is where most of the surface organic matter is respired, and mesopelagic species acquire carbon during their vertical migrations to feed in the surface waters. When these species die, they transport the carbon to the deep sea. Additionally, microbial communities in the mesopelagic zone, such as ammonium-oxidizing bacteria, play a significant role in recycling organic matter and impacting nitrogen and carbon cycles.
The mesopelagic zone is challenging to study due to the extreme pressure changes associated with surfacing. However, advancements in technology, such as the development of the Mesobot—a small autonomous robot equipped with high-definition cameras, are providing new opportunities to explore and understand this fascinating and mysterious twilight zone.
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It plays a role in the global carbon cycle
The mesopelagic zone, also known as the "'twilight zone'", is a region of the ocean that extends from around 200 to 1000 meters below the surface. It constitutes a significant part of the biosphere, occupying about 60% of the planet's surface and 20% of the ocean's volume. This zone is characterised by low light conditions, making it challenging to explore and study. However, recent technological advancements have enabled scientists to uncover the secrets of this mysterious realm.
The mesopelagic zone plays a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, which is the process by which carbon moves between the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and living organisms. This zone is responsible for cycling between 5 and 12 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, a significant contribution that was previously underestimated in climate models.
The mesopelagic region is where most of the surface organic matter is respired, with organisms recycling organic matter sinking from the epipelagic zone above. This efficient ecosystem prevents large amounts of organic carbon from reaching deeper ocean waters. Additionally, mesopelagic species acquire carbon during their diel vertical migration when they feed in surface waters. When these organisms die, they transport the carbon to the deep sea, contributing to the carbon cycle.
Microbes and viruses also play a vital role in the mesopelagic carbon cycle. They recycle organic matter from the surface ocean in a process known as the microbial loop. Some of these microbes, such as ammonium-oxidizing bacteria, can capture organic carbon and impact the carbon cycle. Furthermore, the mesopelagic zone includes regions of sharp changes in temperature, salinity, and density, known as the thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline, respectively. These variations influence the solubility of carbon dioxide and the movement of carbon within the water column.
The mesopelagic zone's role in the carbon cycle has implications for climate change. By cycling carbon and regulating atmospheric CO2 levels, this zone helps to moderate the impacts of climate change. Additionally, the ocean as a whole, including the mesopelagic region, absorbs a significant portion of anthropogenic CO2 emissions, mitigating climate change effects. However, the effects of climate change on the mesopelagic zone are complex and challenging to quantify due to geographical variations.
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It is home to a diverse biological community
The mesopelagic zone is a mysterious and fascinating region of the ocean, hosting a diverse array of biological communities. It is a major part of the world's carbon cycle and plays a critical role in the oceanic carbon cycle, capturing and transporting carbon to the deep sea. This zone is home to a unique set of organisms, including fish, shrimp, squid, snipe eels, jellyfish, and zooplankton, many of which exhibit bioluminescence. These organisms have adapted to the low-light environment, with some using bioluminescence to communicate and attract prey. The mesopelagic zone also includes the thermocline, halocline, and pycnocline, where there are sharp changes in temperature, salinity, and density.
The mesopelagic zone occupies about 60% of the planet's surface and 20% of the ocean's volume, constituting a significant portion of the biosphere. It is a challenging environment for life due to low light levels, making it difficult for photosynthetic organisms to survive. However, the zone is teeming with life, including daytime-visiting herbivores, detritivores that feed on dead organisms, and carnivores that prey on the detritivores. Many organisms in this zone exhibit diel vertical migration, moving up to the epipelagic zone at night to feed and retreating to the mesopelagic zone during the day to avoid visual predators. This migration has a significant impact on the ocean's food web, with predators following zooplankton in search of food.
The mesopelagic zone is also home to a diverse microbial community, with viruses and microbes playing a crucial role in recycling organic matter from the surface ocean through the microbial loop. These microbes have various metabolic pathways, including autotrophs, heterotrophs, and chemoautotrophs. The chemoautotrophic Archaea crenarchaeon Candidatus, for example, can oxidize ammonium as an energy source without oxygen, potentially impacting nitrogen and carbon cycles.
The mesopelagic zone has captivated the imagination of scientists, artists, and writers, and it continues to be a subject of exploration and discovery. With new technology, such as advanced cameras and robots, we are now able to uncover more of the secrets of this mysterious zone and deepen our understanding of our planet.
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It is a difficult part of the ocean to study
The mesopelagic zone, also known as the "'twilight zone', extends from 200 to 1,000 meters (660-3,300 feet) below the ocean's surface. It is a difficult part of the ocean to study due to several factors. Firstly, the mesopelagic zone experiences low light conditions, making it impossible for photosynthetic organisms to survive. This lack of light also poses challenges for exploration and data collection, as researchers need to bring lights to illuminate the area.
Another challenge in studying the mesopelagic zone is the extreme environmental conditions. The temperature in this region varies significantly, with colder temperatures at greater depths. Additionally, the pressure increases with depth, and the water can become extremely cold, even reaching freezing temperatures. These conditions require the use of special materials to prevent research equipment from freezing or being damaged by pressure.
The unique anatomy of mesopelagic fish also contributes to the difficulty in studying them. For example, traditional sample collection devices may fail to preserve organisms due to the rapid pressure change when surfacing. This challenge has led to the development of specialized robots, such as the Mesobot, equipped with high-definition cameras and a unique sampling mechanism capable of keeping organisms alive during ascent.
Furthermore, the microbial community in the mesopelagic zone is not well understood. Recent studies using DNA from seawater samples have revealed the importance of viruses and microbes in recycling organic matter, but there is still much to discover about the microbial loop and the metabolic pathways utilized by these organisms.
The mesopelagic zone also experiences diel vertical migration, where certain species migrate between the euphotic zone and the mesopelagic zone. This movement makes it challenging to study the behavior and ecology of these organisms, as they are mobile and adaptable to different light and food availability conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
The mesopelagic zone is a part of the pelagic zone, which is the open ocean excluding areas near the coasts and seafloor. It is also known as the "'twilight zone' because it sits between the epipelagic zone, which receives the most light, and the bathypelagic zone, which receives no light. The mesopelagic zone extends from 200 to 1,000 meters (660-3,300 feet) below the surface of the ocean.
The deep sea is the region of the ocean that lies below the mesopelagic zone. It is characterized by a lack of light, low temperatures, and high pressure. The deep sea is home to unique creatures and organisms that have adapted to the extreme conditions of this environment.
The mesopelagic zone is characterized by low light levels, which make it impossible for photosynthetic organisms to survive. It is home to a diverse range of creatures, including fish, shrimp, squid, snipe eels, jellyfish, and zooplankton. The mesopelagic zone also plays an important role in the global carbon cycle, as it is the area where most of the surface organic matter is respired.
