The Ocean Habitat and How Animals Evolved to

The Ocean Habitat and How Animals Evolved to Fit in The largest habitat on Earth: makes up to 97 % of all livable space on Earth Also contains the most unique life forms on Earth

Land Influenced Zones l Better known as: The Neritic Zone l Shallow area of ocean water in which land has an impact l Coastal zones of the ocean l Usually with 3 -50 miles of coastline of Continents

Land Un-Influenced Zones l Better known as the: Pelagic zone l Open ocean l Land has no effect or little impact l Majority of the oceans’ habitat

2 Ways of Moving in Ocean l Nekton- Swim in and out of currents (Most Fish) l Plankton- (jellyfish) Drift in Ocean using Currents

Pelagic or Open Water Zones defined by Light

Pelagic Zones l l l l Epipelagic Zone— 0 -200 meters in depth (all colors visible at first) Mesopelagic Zone— 200 -1000 meters (twilight zone: light and dark; no color) Bathypelagic Zone— 1000 -4000 meters (no sunlight visible from this depth and below) Abyssopelagic Zone— 4000 -6000 meters Hadalpelagic Zone— 6000 -10000 meters

Epipelagic zone adaptations l Counter shading l Concealment: [dermersal (dwelling near the bottom) or vegetal (around plants) ] l Disruptive-stripes or dots l Advertisement l Mimicry-can mimic other animals l Transparent

Countershading dark on top, light on bottom ambush predators

Concealment--Camouflage l Dermersal- l Vegetal- rock-like plant-like

Disruptive—stripes or dots, breaks up outline, hard to see

Advertisement—brightly colored--POISONOUS

Mimicry—Brightly Colored—NOT POISONOUS (clown fish) or copying another life-form l Mimic Octopus

Transparency- light goes through you, hard to see

Epipelagic Adaptations l Body Form—Streamed-lined l Musculature-Strong Swimmers l Size-All sizes found here l Eyes-Well developed/large

Mesopelagic Adaptations l Coloration l Black with or without silvery sides l Counter Illumination (glowing organs) l Body formed: Relatively long but sides squeezed in

Mesopelagic Adaptations l Musculature: Moderately strong swimmers some weak l Eyes: Very Large Sensitive eyes

2 Biggest Challenges for Deep Sea Life Scarcity or Lack of food; Must evolve way of obtaining food that rarely gets there l Expandable stomachs or great smell l Great Water pressure l 33 ft of water equal same pressure as 36 miles of air l

Deep Pelagic Adaptations (Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic) l Color: Black or red – Bioluminescence-attract prey at times (organs glow)

Deep Pelagic Adaptations (Bathypelagic-Hadalpelagic) l Shape-Globular (round shape)—Large Head l Musculature: Weak swimmers mainly l Fins modified as sensory organs l Size-Most small but some are large l Eyes-Small or absent (eyes if using bioluminescence)

Deep Pelagic

Benthic Zone—Life in the sand l Coloration: Black or Brown l Shape Elongated or flattened l Strong Muscles (to borrow in sand) l Size: Relatively Large l Eyes: Small