Marine biology

Marine biology is the study of animal and plant life within waterbound ecosystems. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology deals with those species in which life is spent only (or mainly) in the water, thus its classification is based on the environment rather than on taxonomy.

Deep sea and trenches

The ocean is deep, very deep in some places. The deepest recorded measure to date is the Mariana Trench, near the Philippines, in the Pacific at 10,924 m (35,838 ft). Water pressure at these depths is extreme and there is no light from above, but some life still exists here. Small flounder (family Soleidae) fish and shrimp were seen by the American crew of the bathyscaphe Trieste when it dived to the bottom in 1960.

Related Topics:
Mariana Trench - Philippines - Water pressure - Soleidae - Bathyscaphe - Trieste - 1960

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Other notable deeps include Monterey Canyon, in the eastern Pacific, the Tonga Trench in the south west at 32,000 feet (9,750 meters), the Philippine trench, the Puerto Rico Trench at 8,605 m (28,232 ft), the Romanche Trench at 7,760 m (24,450 ft), Fram Basin in the Arctic at 4,665 m (15,305 ft), the Java Trench at 7,450 m (24,442 ft), and the South Sandwich Trench at 7,235 m (23,737 ft).

Related Topics:
Monterey Canyon - Tonga Trench - Philippine trench - Puerto Rico Trench - Romanche Trench - Fram Basin - Java Trench - South Sandwich Trench

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In general the deep sea is considered to start at the photic zone, the point where sunlight loses its power of transference through the water.

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Many life forms that live at these depths have the ability to create their own light.

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Much life centers around seamounts that rise from the deeps. Fish and other sea life use these as congregating areas, for spawning, and feeding.

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Hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor act as oases for life, as do their opposites, cold seeps. These places support unique biomes and many new microbes have been discovered at these places.

Related Topics:
Hydrothermal vent - Cold seeps - Biome

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