Affotic area: What is, flora and fauna

The Afigic zone is defined as the area, whether marina or sweet, in which due to the low percentage of solar radiation that reaches this stratum, The photosynthesis process is not possible. Now that we know what is the definition of the Affotic Zone, we will highlight six of its characteristics:

• Depth: Some doubts are about where the apotics are located. The apostics usually extends from where the photic area ends to the bottom and has a very variable depth, since it depends on the volume and turbidity of the water. In some places where water is more murky, it starts after 200 meters and, in other more transparent bodies of water, after 1,000 meters.
• Oxygen shortage: Oxygen is a limiting factor for the development of life. In the Affotic area, oxygen concentrations are low and this is mainly due to the fact that it is far from the atmosphere and the consumption of oxygen by the organisms that inhabit this area.
• Low temperature: By not arriving almost solar radiation to this area, temperatures are usually very low. In the first meters of the apotics, the temperature is usually more uniform, but at greater depths it descends sharply.
• Great concentration of nutrients: Much of the nutrients that are concentrated in deep water sediments such as nitrates and phosphates, can return to superficial layers through the outcrop and the turbulent mixture of waters.
• Absence of photosynthetic organisms: Due to poor solar radiation, photosynthetic organisms cannot survive in the apotics area.
• Presence of chimiórophos organisms: In the apotics, there are other types of organisms that, like photosynthetic organisms, are autotrophic, since they take carbon dioxide as the main source of carbon, but do not need light as a source of energy but take it from reduced compounds such as ammonia. These organisms are denominated as chimiórophos bacteria.
• Lower amount of life: Due to reigning conditions, life in this stratum is less diverse than in the photic area. This is not only due to the absence of organisms capable of photosynthesize, but the inhabitants of this area must have particular characteristics that allow them to survive.

Discover more about photosynthesis: what is, phases and importance in the following Ecology Verde.

Because it is a stratum in which light energy is scarce or zero It lacks photosynthetic organisms since plants and algae depend exclusively on light for survival.

We must know then that primary productivity comes exclusively from chimiótrophos organisms capable of producing organic matter from the energy they obtain by the oxidation of inorganic compounds. These compounds can be:

• The ammonia.
• Nitrites.
• Acids such as sulfideric.

In turn, in order to carry out this process and like photoautotrophs, they use carbon dioxide carbon present in the middle. Due to what is previously stated, the chimiórophos fulfill the function of producing organisms In the Afigic zone of aquatic ecosystems.

Now that you know the flora of the apotics area, let’s know what animals are in the apotics area. Do not hesitate to consult the following video of Ecology Verde about aquatic ecosystems, their characteristics and types.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc4v4nhyt8y

The fauna of the apostics is represented by invertebrate and vertebrate animals consumers that They feed thanks to remains of dead organisms and microorganismswhich are dragged into deeper waters from the surface.

Many of these animals depend on some type of luminous decoy, mimicry, large mouthpieces, (some extensible), compressed bodies, among other characteristics that allow them to feed. Other animals are able to migrate, preferably during the night, in search of their food.

Let’s know What animals are in the Affotic Zone. These are some of them:

• Bentonic organisms: The diversity of benthic organisms of the depths is very high, in fact, it is greater than the bentos that underlies in shallow waters. A large percentage of these benthic organisms is represented by various species of polystic, bivalve mollusks, crustaceans, among others. Discover more about what are benthic organisms: examples and characteristics, here.
• Bioluminescent organisms: There are animals that have the ability to generate light, that is, they are bioluminescent. Many fish, squid, cnidarians and echinoderms that inhabit deep waters, have light organs and luminescent lures that use to attract their prey. Some organisms such as shrimp, produce discharges of light clouds to escape their predators. Some species of fish They use bioluminescence in order to communicate with other individuals of the same species.

If you want to read more articles similar to Affotic area: What is, flora and faunawe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.