Batial zone: what is, flora and fauna

Below the Mesopelagic area and above the abyssal zone, the batial zone or also called the batipegic area, which corresponds to the oceanic funds located between the 1,000 and 4,000 meters deep.

The batial zone is a region that has high hydrostatic pressure and in which temperatures are low and descend even more by increasing depth. Darkness is almost complete except for the fantastic bioluminescent organisms. Discover what bioluminescence and examples are in the following article we recommend.

While we mention that on this site temperatures are usually low, in certain parts of the Pacific and Atlantic ocean chimneys hydrothermalthat throw liquids at high temperatures and in this way the surrounding water.

Associated with these chimneys, there is a great diversity of life constituted by chemosynthetic bacteria that oxidize reduced compounds from which they obtain the necessary energy to form organic matter, thus transforming the primary producers of the battial zone.

The batial zone does not present an associated flora Because the total absence of light prevents the photosynthetic process from which plant species are capable of growing and developing. Therefore, the plants of the batial zone are not able to survive so that life in this region depends exclusively on the Rain of debris which comes from superficial layers: life in depths is mainly heterotroph.

We leave you the following article about heterotrophic organisms: what are, characteristics and examples in the following Ecology Verde.

Regardless of the fact that there is no flora on this site, there are several organisms that are able to survive. Let us now know six animals in the battery zone:

TUBICOL GUANO (Riftia Pachyptila)

In some underwater chimneys such as those mentioned above, some 2,000 meters deepthere are tubic worms associated with them. These worms, capable of supporting very high temperatures, are found only where Hydrogen sulphide concentrations are so high that can feed many bacteria that live inside (symbions) which help you synthesize your food.

You may be interested in taking a look at the following ecology article Verde about what symbiosis in ecology is examples.

Ostrácodos

Ostrácodos belonging to the podocópida order They are microcrustaceans who have their body protected by a Bivalvo shell. They have benthic habits and although their diversity and abundance decrease with depth, they are widely used as ecological indicators due to the specificity they present in the environment.

Dragon of the depths (Stomies boa boa)

Within the batipegic fish, we find the dragon of the depths. Characterized by his long teeth and his elongated body, ascends during the night to superficial strata in search of food. Like other species, it has a structure that stands out from its jaw inferior that allows you to attract your prey.

It was believed that this species reached approximately 1,500 meters deep, until an individual was found at 3,447 meters in the submarine cannon of Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Sea devil or ball fish (Himantolophus spp.)

The sea devil constitutes a very particular case due to the marked sexual dimorphism it presents. Did you know that females can measure up to 1 meter and males reach only 12 centimeters? Males have very developed smell and locate females and sometimes, They act as parasites that remain throughout life attached through their mouths to these.

A distinctive feature that defines the ball fish is that The female has a filament in his head that has A luminescent ampoule able to attract their prey.

You may be interested in knowing more about parasitism: definition and examples.

Pacific sleepy (Somniosus pacificus)

The Pacific sleepy 2,000 meters deep. It measures on average about 4 meters, but specimens have been found that can reach 7 meters in length. It feeds mainly on cephalopods such as The squid and octopus And also of fish.

Tollo cigar (Isistius brasiliensis)

Found more than 3,700 meters deep, Tollo Cigarro is a long -body shark that measures approximately 50 centimeters, has the short snout and large eyes, Your teeth are very sharp and allows them to attack in greater carriers. It is dark brown and It presents fotoforos In the ventral part of your body, capable of emitting light.

You may be interested in consulting this post with other animals of the marine depths, here.

The abyssal zone, unlike the batipegic area, extends below this in greater depth between 4,000 and 6,000 meters. Regardless of whether these strata are located at different depths, They share several characteristics in commonhow to be:

• High hydrostatic pressures.
• Low temperatures.
• Low concentration of nutrients.
• Absence of sunlight.
• Absence of photosynthetic organisms.
• Presence of bioluminescent organisms.

However, we know that marine life diversity decreases as we approach deeper funds, so in the abyssal area we can find different animals species to those we find in the Hadal area.

Now that you have learned a lot about the Hadal area, we invite you to continue investigating the incredible and surprising abyssal zone.

If you want to read more articles similar to Batial zone: what is, flora and faunawe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.