Unusual underwater inhabitants: who lives at the bottom of the ocean? What organisms live in water Plankton is the most common form of life in the aquatic environment

Our planet is filled with different living creatures that decorate the Earth and contribute to the ecosystem. But it’s no secret that the depths of the water are also teeming with a variety of inhabitants. Although the variety of these creatures is not as abundant as on the surface, these organisms are still very unusual and interesting. So, who lives at the bottom of the ocean, what are their living conditions?

Conditions at depth

From space, our planet looks like a blue pearl. This is because the area of ​​all the waters is almost three times larger than the land. Like the land, the surface of the oceans has uneven surfaces. It is dotted with hills, depressions, plains, mountains and even volcanoes. They are all at different depths. Thus, the abyssal plains are submerged at approximately 4000-6000 m. But even there there is life, although this may be surprising, since at a depth of 1000 m the pressure is 100 atmospheres. And with every hundred meters it increases by 10 units. Also, light does not penetrate there, which is why darkness always reigns at the bottom, therefore, the process of photosynthesis does not occur. In addition, under such a thickness the water is unable to warm up, in the most deep places the temperature stays at zero. Such conditions make life in these places not very rich compared to the surface, since the lower you go, the less vegetation grows. So the question arises: how do those who live on the ocean floor adapt?

Life of the deep sea

Although it may seem that in such circumstances life is very difficult and even impossible, the local inhabitants are still quite adapted to these conditions. Animals that are at the very bottom do not feel strong pressure and do not suffer from a lack of oxygen. Also, those who live at the bottom of the ocean are able to feed themselves. Basically, they collect residues that “fall” from the upper layers.

Dwellers of the Deep

Of course, at the bottom the diversity of life is not as great as on the surface of the water, and you can count deep-sea inhabitants on your fingers. Unicellular organisms are found here, there are a little more than 120 species. There are also crustaceans, there are about 110 varieties of them. The rest are much smaller, the number of each species does not exceed 70. These few inhabitants include worms, coelenterates, mollusks, sponges and echinoderms. There are also fish that live on the ocean floor, but here the diversity of their species is very small.

Is it really pitch dark there?

Since the rays of the sun are unable to penetrate the abyss of water, there is an opinion that all the inhabitants are in constant darkness. But in reality, many of the animals found there have the ability to emit light. Most of the people who live on the ocean floor have this property: predators. For example, the conical periphylla, emitting light, attracts small inhabitants. This is a trap for them, as they become victims of this predator. But harmless living creatures can also create a glow.

Some fish have certain areas of their body that emit light. More often they are located under the eyes or stretch along the body. Certain species Crustaceans or fish use their vision, but the majority of the inhabitants do not have eyes or have undeveloped organs. This is not surprising, since such “live” lighting, which is created by bottom creatures, is not enough to make the underwater space visible. To get food you have to use your sense of touch. For this purpose, there are modified fins, tentacles or long legs of those who live on the ocean floor. The photo above illustrates one of these unusual creatures, known as the "Atoll" jellyfish. But in the deep-sea abyss, many living inhabitants lead a mostly motionless life, and therefore resemble flowers and plants.

IN ocean water contains substances necessary for life. Living things are found in the ocean at any depth. They exist even at the bottom of the Mariana Trench itself. deep point of the World Ocean - at a depth of 11 thousand meters, even where hot magma comes from the depths of the Earth through faults, even where high temperatures and enormous pressure. We can safely say that life in the ocean is all-pervasive.

Life in the ocean is incredibly diverse - more than 200,000 species of organisms live there, due to the fact that its conditions are very different from the poles to the equator, from the surface of the water masses to the deep. In terms of diversity of plant and animal species, the ocean is comparable to land. The ocean is still full of secrets even now. When researching depths of the sea find organisms unknown to science.

Inhabitants of the World Ocean

All inhabitants of the World Ocean can be divided into 3 groups according to their living conditions:

1) Organisms that live on the surface of the ocean and in the water column and do not have active means of transportation (plankton).

2) Organisms that actively move in the water column (nekton).

3) Organisms that live on the bottom (benthos).

Plankton

Analysis of living organisms and their habitats suggests that the ocean is unevenly populated by organisms. Coastal areas with depths of up to 200 meters, well illuminated and warmed by the sun's rays, are especially densely populated. On the mainland shallows you can see forests and meadows of seaweed - pastures for fish and other ocean inhabitants.

Far from the coast, large algae are rare, since the sun's rays have difficulty penetrating the water column. Plankton reigns here (Greek planktos - wandering). These are plants and animals that are unable to withstand currents that carry them over long distances. Most of these organisms are very small, many of them visible only under a microscope. There are phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton are various algae. Zooplankton inhabits the entire water column: these are small crustaceans and numerous protozoa.

Plankton is the main food of most ocean inhabitants. Naturally, areas rich in it are also rich in fish. They can also live here baleen whales, in whose diet plankton occupies the main place.

Actively moving organisms - nekton (Greek nektós - floating, swimming) live everywhere in the ocean. nekton includes most fish, pinnipeds (seals and walruses), cetaceans (whales, sperm whales), cephalopods(squid, octopus, etc.), sea ​​snakes and turtles. All nektons usually have a well-streamlined body shape, which helps them move quickly in the water.

Benthos lives at the bottom of the sea or ocean (Greek benthos - deep). This is a collection of plant and animal organisms that live on the ground or in the soil of the seabed. Benthos includes brown and red algae, mollusks, crustaceans and others. Benthos serves as food for many fish and other aquatic animals.

The distribution of benthos is observed vertical zoning: mollusks and crustaceans predominate in the upper horizons, mollusks and echinoderms - in the middle ones, crustaceans and echinoderms - in the deeper ones.

Depths of the ocean

The depths of the ocean are sparsely populated, but they are not lifeless. Of course, there are no plants there anymore, but in complete darkness, under great pressure, in cold water swim amazing fish: they have huge toothy mouths, glowing bodies, “lanterns” on their heads. Some of them are blind, others can see poorly in the dark. They feed on the remains of organisms falling from above, or eat each other

Life placement

Life in the ocean is distributed unevenly not only in depth, but also depending on geographical latitude. Polar waters due to low temperatures and long polar night poor in plankton. It develops most in waters temperate zone both hemispheres. There are currents here strong winds contribute to the mixing of water masses and the rise of deep waters, enriching them nutrients and oxygen. Due to the strong development of plankton, different kinds fish, so temperate latitudes- the most fishy areas of the ocean. IN tropical latitudes the number of living organisms decreases, since these waters are very heated, highly salty and poorly mixed with deep waters water masses. At equatorial latitudes, the number of organisms increases again. The ocean has long been man's breadwinner.

The work was prepared by 6th grade student Nikita Khrabrov

The ocean is a boundless expanse of trillions of liters of salt water. Thousands of species of living beings have found refuge here. Some of them are heat-loving and live at shallow depths so as not to miss the rays of the sun. Others are accustomed to the cold waters of the Arctic and try to avoid warm currents. There are even those who live at the bottom of the ocean, adapting to the conditions of the harsh world.

The latest representatives are biggest mystery for scientists. After all, just recently they could not even think that someone could survive in such extreme conditions. Moreover, evolution has awarded these living organisms with a number of unprecedented features.

Beneath the oceans

For a long time there was a theory that there is no life at the bottom of the ocean. The reason for this is low temperature water, as well as high pressure, capable of compressing a submarine like a soda can. And yet, some creatures were able to withstand these circumstances and confidently settled at the very edge of the bottomless abyss.

So who lives at the bottom of the ocean? First of all, these are bacteria, traces of which were found at a depth of more than 5 thousand meters. But if microscopic creatures are unlikely to surprise ordinary person, then giant clams and monster fish deserve due attention.

How did you find out about those who live at the bottom of the ocean?

With the development of submarines, diving to a depth of two kilometers became possible. This allowed scientists to look into a world hitherto unprecedented and amazing. Each dive provided an opportunity to discover yet another and see more and more new species.

A fast development digital technologies have made it possible to create ultra-durable cameras capable of filming underwater. Thanks to this, the world saw photographs depicting animals living at the bottom of the ocean.

And every year scientists go deeper and deeper in the hope of new discoveries. And they are happening - many amazing insights have been made over the past decade. In addition, hundreds, or even thousands of photographs depicting the inhabitants of the deep sea were posted online.

Creatures living at the bottom of the ocean

Well, it's time to go on a little journey into the mysterious depths. Having passed the threshold of 200 meters, it is difficult to distinguish even small silhouettes, and after 500 meters pitch darkness sets in. From this moment begins the possessions of those who are indifferent to light and warmth.

It is at this depth that you can find polychaete worm who drifts from place to place in search of profit. In the light of the lamps it shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow, the word is made of silver plates. There is a row of tentacles on its head, thanks to which it orients itself in space and senses the approach of prey.

But the worm itself is food for another inhabitant underwater world - angelfish. This amazing creature belongs to the class gastropods and is a predator. It gets its name from the two large fins that wrap around its sides like wings.

If you go even deeper, you can stumble upon the queen of jellyfish. Hairy Cyanea, or Lion's Mane- the largest representative of its species. Large individuals reach 2 meters in diameter, and their tentacles can stretch almost 20 meters.

Who else lives at the bottom of the ocean? This is a squat lobster. According to scientists, it can adapt to life even at a depth of 5 thousand meters. Thanks to its flattened body, it can easily withstand pressure, and its long legs allow it to move along the muddy ocean floor without any problems.

Deep-sea fish representatives

Over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, fish living on the ocean floor have been able to adapt to existence without sun rays. Moreover, some of them have even learned to produce their own light.

So, at around 1 thousand meters he lives angler. There is a process on its head that emits a slight glow that attracts other fish. Because of this, it is also called " european anglerfish"At the same time, it can change its color, thereby merging with the environment.

Another representative deep sea creatures is a blob fish. Her body resembles jelly, which allows her to withstand pressure at great depths. It feeds exclusively on plankton, which makes it harmless to its neighbors.

At the bottom of the oceans lives a stargazer fish, the second name is the celestial eye. The reason for this pun was that the eyes are always directed upward, as if looking out for the stars. Her body is covered with poisonous spines, and near her head there are tentacles that can paralyze the victim.

organisms living in: the surface layer of water; in the water column; on the ocean floor? please give examples! and got the best answer

Answer from ЂaisiaKonovalov[guru]

2. Nekton (Greek nektós - floating, floating) - a set of aquatic actively floating organisms, mainly predatory, living in the water column, capable of resisting the force of the current and independently moving over considerable distances. Nekton includes more than 20,000 species of fish, squid, cetaceans, pinnipeds, water snakes, turtles, and penguins.
3. Benthos (from the Greek βένθος - depth) - a set of organisms living on the ground and in the soil of the bottom of reservoirs. In oceanology, benthos are organisms that live on the seabed; in freshwater hydrobiology - organisms that live at the bottom of continental reservoirs and streams. Animals belonging to benthos are called zoobenthos, and plants are called phytobenthos.

Answer from Yoanches Sanchesov[newbie]
1. Plankton live in the surface layer of water. These are small organisms that drift freely in the water column and are unable to resist the current.


Benthos serves as food for many fish and other aquatic animals, and is also used by humans (for example, algae, oysters, crabs, some fish). Example of benthic animals - sea ​​stars, oysters, flounder, mussels, methiola, mia, sea ​​cucumber, brittle stars, anemones and many others.

Answer from Kenyul Kadirova[newbie]
And at the bottom there is benthos - a collection of organisms living in or on the soil. Pelagic organisms are in turn divided into plankton and nekton. Plankton consists of animals and plants that are incapable of independent movement. They move passively - sea ​​currents and the wind; These are mainly small algae and animals. Nekton includes larger animals that move independently over long distances: fish, marine mammals. The real masters of the water column of the oceans and seas are small crustaceans, cephalopods and jellyfish, and among vertebrates - fish and cetaceans.
In the oceans and seas, as on land, plants are the basis animal life: The inhabitants of the sea feed on them. On land, the main mass of vegetation is higher flowering plants, and in the seas - algae. Large algae - kelp, fucus - grow near the coasts, and small, single-celled algae float in the water column. In the sea, vegetation can only exist in the upper, sunlit layer. Near the coasts and in inland seas algae sometimes descend only a few tens of meters. At greater depths, up to approximately 200 m, they can only be found where the water remains clear.

Answer from Nikolay Bulatov[newbie]
1. Plankton live in the surface layer of water. These are small organisms that drift freely in the water column and are unable to resist the current.
2. Nekton (Greek nektos - floating, swimming) - a set of aquatic actively floating organisms, mainly predatory, living in the water column, capable of resisting the force of the current and independently moving over considerable distances. Nekton includes more than 20,000 species of fish, squid, cetaceans, pinnipeds, water snakes, turtles, and penguins.
3. Bentos (from the Greek ?????? - depth) - a set of organisms living on the ground and in the soil of the bottom of reservoirs. In oceanology, benthos are organisms that live on the seabed; in freshwater hydrobiology - organisms that live at the bottom of continental reservoirs and streams. Animals belonging to benthos are called zoobenthos, and plants are called phytobenthos.
Benthos serves as food for many fish and other aquatic animals, and is also used by humans (for example, algae, oysters, crabs, some fish). Examples of benthic animals are starfish, oysters, flounder, mussels, methiola, mya, sea cucumber, brittle stars, anemones and many others.

Answer from Angelika Petrosova[newbie]
)surface - plankton frogs tadpoles )in the depth - crucian carp newt seal whale dolphin octopus turtles

Answer from Valya Fastovshuk[newbie]
1. Plankton live in the surface layer of water. These are small organisms that drift freely in the water column and are unable to resist the current.
2. Nekton (Greek nektos - floating, swimming) - a set of aquatic actively floating organisms, mainly predatory, living in the water column, capable of resisting the force of the current and independently moving over considerable distances. Nekton includes more than 20,000 species of fish, squid, cetaceans, pinnipeds, water snakes, turtles, and penguins.
3. Bentos (from the Greek ?????? - depth) - a set of organisms living on the ground and in the soil of the bottom of reservoirs. In oceanology, benthos are organisms that live on the seabed; in freshwater hydrobiology - organisms that live at the bottom of continental reservoirs and streams. Animals belonging to benthos are called zoobenthos, and plants are called phytobenthos.
Benthos serves as food for many fish and other aquatic animals, and is also used by humans (for example, algae, oysters, crabs, some fish). Examples of benthic animals are starfish, oysters, flounder, mussels, methiola, mya, sea cucumber, brittle stars, anemones and many others.