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

Our planet is filled with various living creatures that adorn the Earth and contribute to the ecosystem. But it's no secret that the water depths are also teeming with many 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?

The situation at depth

From space, our planet looks like a blue pearl. This is because the area of ​​all waters is almost three times the size of land. Like the earth, the surface of the oceans is uneven. It is dotted with hills, depressions, plains, mountains and even volcanoes. All of them are at different depths. So, the abyssal plains are submerged at about 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 deepest places the temperature is kept at zero. Such conditions make life in these places, compared to the surface, not very rich, because the lower you go down, the less vegetation grows. Therefore, the question arises: how do those who live at the bottom of the ocean adapt?

Deep sea life

Although it may seem that in such circumstances life is very difficult and even impossible, nevertheless, the local inhabitants are quite adapted to these conditions. Animals that are at the very bottom do not feel strong pressure and at the same time 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 the remains 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 waters, and you can count the deep-sea inhabitants “on the fingers”. One-celled ones are found here, there are a little more than 120 species. There are also crustaceans, there are about 110 varieties. The rest are much smaller, the number of each species does not exceed 70. Such a few inhabitants include worms, coelenterates, molluscs, sponges and echinoderms. There are also fish living at the bottom of the ocean, but here the diversity of their species is very small.

Is it really pitch black?

Since the rays of the sun are unable to break through 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. Basically, predators have this property of those who live at the bottom of the ocean. For example, a conical periphylla, emitting light, attracts small inhabitants. This is a trap for them, as they become victims of this predator. But the glow can also be created by harmless living beings.

Some fish have certain areas of the body that emit light. More often they are located under the eyes or stretch along the body. Certain types of crustaceans or fish use their eyesight, but the majority of the inhabitants have no 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 observable. To get food, you have to use your sense of touch. To do this, there are modified fins, tentacles or long legs for those who live on the bottom of the ocean. The photo above illustrates one such unusual creature known as the "Atoll" jellyfish. But in the deep abyss, many living inhabitants mostly lead a motionless life, therefore they resemble flowers and plants.

Ocean water contains substances necessary for life. Living beings are found in the ocean at any depth. They exist even at the bottom of the Mariana Trench - the deepest 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 there are high temperatures and enormous pressure. We can safely say that life in the ocean is all-pervasive.

Life in the ocean is extremely 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 ones. In terms of the diversity of plant and animal species, the ocean is comparable to land. The ocean is still full of mysteries even now. When studying the depths of the sea, organisms unknown to science are found.

Inhabitants of the oceans

According to the conditions of their habitat, all inhabitants of the World Ocean can be grouped into 3 groups:

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

2) Organisms actively moving in the water column (nekton).

3) Organisms living on the bottom (benthos).

Plankton

An analysis of living organisms and their habitats suggests that the ocean is inhabited by organisms unevenly. Especially densely populated are coastal areas with depths of up to 200 meters, well-lit and warmed by the sun's rays. On the mainland, you can see forests and meadows of algae - pastures for fish and other inhabitants of the ocean.

Away from the coast, large algae are rare, since the sun's rays hardly penetrate the water column. Plankton reigns here (Greek planktos - wandering). These are plants and animals that are not able to withstand currents that carry them over considerable distances. Most of these organisms are very small, many of them only visible under a microscope. There are phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton are various algae. Zooplankton inhabits the entire water column: these are small crustaceans, numerous protozoa.

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

Actively moving organisms live everywhere in the ocean - nekton (Greek nektós - floating, floating) nekton includes most fish, pinnipeds (seals and walruses), cetaceans (whales, sperm whales), cephalopods (squids, octopuses, etc.), sea snakes and turtles. All nektons usually have a well-streamlined body shape that 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 include brown and red algae, mollusks, crustaceans and others. Benthos serves as food for many fish and other aquatic animals.

In the distribution of benthos, vertical zonality is observed: mollusks and crustaceans predominate in the upper horizons, mollusks and echinoderms dominate in the middle ones, and crustaceans and echinoderms predominate in deeper ones.

ocean depths

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, amazing fish swim in cold water: they have huge toothy mouths, luminous bodies, and “lanterns” on their heads. Some of them are blind, others can barely see in the dark. They feed on the remains of organisms falling from above, or eat each other.

accommodation life

Life in the ocean is distributed unevenly not only in depth, but also depending on geographic latitude. Polar waters are poor in plankton due to low temperatures and long polar nights. Most of all it develops in the waters of the temperate zone of both hemispheres. Here, currents and strong winds contribute to the mixing of water masses and the rise of deep waters, enriching them with nutrients and oxygen. Due to the strong development of plankton, various types of fish also develop, so temperate latitudes are the most fishy areas of the ocean. In tropical latitudes, the number of living organisms decreases, since these waters are very warm, highly saline and poorly mixed with deep water masses. In equatorial latitudes, the number of organisms increases again. The ocean has long been the breadwinner of man.

The work was prepared by a student of 6 "a" class Khrabrov Nikita

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 thermophilic 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 the warm currents. There are even those who live at the bottom of the ocean, having adapted to the conditions of a harsh world.

The last representatives are the greatest mystery for scientists. After all, until recently, they could not even think that someone was able to survive in such extreme conditions. Moreover, evolution has rewarded these living organisms with a number of unseen 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 the low temperature of the water, as well as high pressure, which can compress 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 the average 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 up to two kilometers became possible. This allowed scientists to look into the world, hitherto unseen and amazing. Each dive made it possible to open another one to see more and more new species.

And the rapid development of digital technology has made it possible to create heavy-duty cameras that can shoot underwater. Thanks to this, the world saw photographs that depict 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 - over the past decade, many amazing conclusions have been made. In addition, hundreds, if not thousands, of photographs were posted on the network, which depict the inhabitants of the deep sea.

Creatures that live at the bottom of the ocean

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

It is at this depth that one can meet a polychaete worm, which, in search of profit, drifts from place to place. In the light of the lamps, it shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow, the word is made of silver plates. On his head is a series of tentacles, thanks to which he is oriented in space and feels the approach of prey.

But the worm itself is food for another inhabitant of the underwater world - the sea angel. This amazing creature belongs to the class of gastropods and is a predator. It got its name because of the two large fins that cover its sides like wings.

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

Who lives at the bottom of the ocean yet? This is a squat lobster. According to scientists, he can adapt to life even at a depth of 5 thousand meters. Thanks to its flattened body, it calmly endures pressure, and its long legs allow it to move easily along the muddy bottom of the ocean.

Deep sea fish

Fish living at the bottom of the ocean, over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, have been able to adapt to an existence without sunlight. Moreover, some of them even learned to produce their own light.

So, at the mark of 1 thousand meters, a monkfish lives. On his head there is an appendage that emits a small glow that lures other fish. Because of this, it is also called the "European anglerfish". At the same time, he can change his color, thereby merging with the environment.

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

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

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

Answer from YaisiyaKonovalova[guru]

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

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


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

Answer from Kenyul Kadirova[newbie]
And at the bottom is benthos - a set of organisms living in the ground or on it. Pelagic organisms, in turn, are divided into plankton and nekton. Plankton consists of animals and plants that are incapable of independent movement. They move passively - by sea currents and wind; mainly small algae and animals. Nekton includes larger animals that move independently over long distances: fish, marine mammals. The real owners of the water column of the oceans and seas are small crustaceans, cephalopods and jellyfish, and of vertebrates - fish and cetaceans.
In the oceans and seas, as well as on land, plants are the basis of 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 coast, and small, unicellular, float in the water column. In the sea, vegetation can exist only in the upper, sunlit layer. Near the coasts and in inland seas, algae sometimes descend only a few tens of meters. At great depths, up to about 200 m, they can only be found where the water remains clear.

Answer from Nikolai Bulatov[newbie]
1. Plankton lives in the surface layer of water. These are small organisms that drift freely in the water column and are unable to resist the flow.
2. Nekto?n (Greek nektos - floating, floating) - a set of aquatic actively swimming organisms, mostly predatory, living in the water column, able to resist the force of the current and independently move over considerable distances. More than 20,000 species of fish, squid, cetaceans, pinnipeds, water snakes, turtles, and penguins belong to the nekton.
3. Bentos (from the Greek. ?????? - depth) - a set of organisms that live on the ground and in the soil of the bottom of reservoirs. In oceanology, benthos are organisms that live on the seafloor; in freshwater hydrobiology - organisms that live at the bottom of continental reservoirs and streams. Animals related 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 (eg algae, oysters, crabs, some fish). An example of benthic animals is starfish, oysters, flounders, mussels, methiola, mia, sea cucumber, brittle stars, anemones and many others.

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

Answer from Valya Fastovshuk[newbie]
1. Plankton lives in the surface layer of water. These are small organisms that drift freely in the water column and are unable to resist the flow.
2. Nekto?n (Greek nektos - floating, floating) - a set of aquatic actively swimming organisms, mostly predatory, living in the water column, able to resist the force of the current and independently move over considerable distances. More than 20,000 species of fish, squid, cetaceans, pinnipeds, water snakes, turtles, and penguins belong to the nekton.
3. Bentos (from the Greek. ?????? - depth) - a set of organisms that live on the ground and in the soil of the bottom of reservoirs. In oceanology, benthos are organisms that live on the seafloor; in freshwater hydrobiology - organisms that live at the bottom of continental reservoirs and streams. Animals related 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 (eg algae, oysters, crabs, some fish). An example of benthic animals is starfish, oysters, flounders, mussels, methiola, mia, sea cucumber, brittle stars, anemones and many others.