The oceans, like the land regions, have reliefs and plains throughout their territory. Although somewhat more unknown than the mountain ranges and valleys that we can find between mountains in any corner of the planet, the dorsal and oceanic graves, as well as the abyssal plains make up the relief of the world’s oceans. Its complex structures are responsible for the different ecosystems that we can find in oceanic funds.
Without a doubt, the abyssal plains fill with intrigue and admiration at the same time, to discover their characteristics and what type of fauna house. Continue reading this ecology article to immerse yourself in the knowledge of the abyssal plains, what are and characteristics.
Abyssal plains: what are they
The abyssal plains are the region of the Continental territory near the coastwhich appears as Underwater extensions that are immersing themselves in the oceanic regions. They are located at a depth between 2,000 and 5,500 metersbeing located between the continental slope (very inclined underwater region that connects the continental platform with the abyssal plains) and a dorsal or oceanic fossa (underwater elevations and cavities of the terrain, respectively).
As its name indicates, the abyssal plain tends to be flat and horizontal; Easily identifiable when surrounded by submarine land with slopes and inclinations.
It is estimated that approximately 40% of the oceanic fund of the planet is the abyssal plains. In this way, we can find abyssal plains in the four oceans of the world, among which the Argentine abyssal plain and that of Vizcaya in the Atlantic Ocean, those of Somalia and Arabia in the Indian, the tuft and Aleutian plains in the Pacific Ocean and the Bellishause and Enderby are in the Arctic.
Abisal plains: characteristics
In the abyssal plains the Greater concentration of planet sedimentswhere layers of sediments from magma solidification, as well as components of rich rocks in magnesium and silica, accumulate year after year.
The abyssal plains appear as huge areas of flat terrain, Oceanic deserts in which sometimes certain elements of the relief can be found, such as Volcanic islands and hills and the Guyot (conical way structures that probably arose as volcanic islands but were seriously eroded, presenting the flattened top and being submerged in the oceanic background).
Animals of the abyssal plains
Due to the Lack of light in the abyssal plainsthe fauna that we can find in these water water ecosystems is really poor. There is barely life, except for the presence of certain species of chemosynthetic bacteria That, as the name implies, they perform chemosynthesis instead of the common process of photosynthesis that other bacteria and plants perform to nourish. In this case, these bacteria use different gaseous products that take from the subsoil of the volcanic areas that exist in the abyssal plains, which chemically process until obtaining the necessary nutrients for their survival.
On the other hand, we can find some invertebrate animals within the group of Abyssal worms and certain vertebrates, the Abyssal fish. These abyssal fish have large mouths and different types of morphological structures that use traps or baits to catch their prey.
As we have indicated above, the lack of light characteristic of the abyssal plains is responsible for the ways of life that inhabit should adapt and develop other methods and nutrition processes. In the case of fish, we find numerous examples of the use of Bioluminescence To catch your prey. An example of this is the flashlight fish.
They have light appendices that they have in the anterior area of โโtheir body and that they use to attract the attention of their prey And, once they are close, they are trapped, falling into the networks of the great mouths of their predators.
In this other ecology article, we continue talking about curious fauna of the oceans and we tell you some data on 20 rare marine animals in danger of extinction.
If you want to read more articles similar to ABISAL PLANURES: What are and characteristicswe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.
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