Hadal Zone: What is, Flora and Fauna

Hadal Zone: What is, Flora and Fauna

By Dr. Kyle Muller

If we enter the depths of any of the many oceans distributed around the world and descend 6000 meters deep, we will find a place where the dominant conditions complicate the survival of the organisms. This area is only represented by marine graves of immense depths, would you like to discover more about this area? Today in Ecology Verde we tell you What is the Hadal area, its flora and fauna related

What is the Hadal Zone and its characteristics

In the oceans, there is a classification based on the different levels of depth. The Hadal area, derived from the French word that means “place of death” and related to the Greek God of Hades, is an area that It is approximately 6,000 meters deepin the oceanic graves.

Located Below the abyssal zonethe Hadal zone presents very peculiar characteristics that define it, let’s know eleven of them:

  • Constitutes the deeper marine ecosystem: With more extreme conditions for the development of life.
  • It is one of the less investigated ecosystems: Due to its distance and the technological challenges.
  • The Hadal zone has a Great extension: up to 10,000 meters deep.
  • It is an area that is located represented by marine graves: The deepest of the planet Earth is the so -called “Mariana Fossa.” These sea graves fulfill a fundamental role with respect to climate change since they are carbon sinks.
  • There is Total absence of solar radiation: Therefore there is no development of photosynthetic organisms.
  • It is an area with Very low temperatures and very high hydrostatic pressures: Increases 10 atmospheres per 100 meters deep.
  • It has one very low nutrient concentration: The main sources of nutrients come from upper layers and sediment landslides.
  • There are one large number of organisms present in the Hades area: thanks to the development of special adaptations that allow them to survive extreme living conditions.
  • It has bacteria: The only primary producers existing in this area. Discover the types of bacteria in the following article that we recommend.
  • It is found concentrated in the Pacific Ocean: Although not all, but most of the habitats are in these areas.

Hadal Zone: What is, Flora and Fauna - What is the Hadal Zone and its characteristics

Flora of the Hadal Zone

We must know that in the Hadal area there is no organism belonging to the plant kingdom, that is, No There is no kind of plant. This is mainly due to the total absence of light, which prevents the process of photosynthesis. Therefore, we can say that there is no flora in the Hadal area.

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

Hadal area fauna

Although the diversity of marine organisms decreases as depth increases, the Hadal area has life. Most of the species that are part of this site, have adaptations to extreme conditions As at low temperatures and high pressures, for example:

  • Development of Tactile appendages.
  • Dominance of dark colors.
  • Presence of telescopic and large eyes.
  • Presence of bioluminescent organs.

Do not hesitate to take a look at this article about what bioluminescence and examples are. Besides, do you imagine that there are under the Hadal area? Let us know what species of animals we can find:

Marine amphipods (amphipoda)

Marine amphipods are small crustaceans inhabitants of the oceanic funds and fulfill a fundamental role within the trophic networks, since they constitute the food of many secondary consumers. To know more about crustaceans: what are, types, characteristics and examples do not hesitate to consult the following ecology article that we recommend.

Sea cucumbers (holothuroid)

With their elongated and soft bodies, sea cucumbers are organisms that live even in the deep oceanic graves. These animals usually cause a comic reaction due to their phallic form. His Oral apparatus It is found surrounded by tentacles with those who can feed on debris.

Sea slugs (nudibranchia)

Sea slugs are gastropod mollusks that are found devoid of a shell. Of colorful colors are very toxic animals that spend most of their life living in the bottom of the oceans. You may be interested in taking a look at this post on mollusks: characteristics, types and examples.

Dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis Umbellata)

This kind of cephalopod has been found at huge marine depths. Your jelly body has fins similar to ears that are projected from your body. It’s about Carnivorous species that feed on organisms that engulf whole.

OFIURAS (Ophiuroid)

The offices are similar to sea stars (asteroids), which like these have five elongated and thin arms with the exception that in each of them They present skeletal vertebrae. Did you know that in the upper part of your body they have calcium carbonate structures that work as a great eye?

Xenophioforos (xenophyrophorea)

While these organisms are not part of the fauna itself because they correspond to the protist kingdom, it is about Unicellular beings They are many times confused with sea sponges and that are very difficult to study because they have great fragility.

Its diet is based on the benthic deposits of the oceanic funds already measure that they feed are releasing a mucilaginous substance that is projected from the depths, hence its name that means “external bodies formator.”

Hadal Zone: What is, Flora and Fauna - Fauna from the Hadal Zone

If you want to read more articles similar to Hadal Zone: What is, Flora and Faunawe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.

Literature
  • Briceรฑo V., Gabriela. (2018). Hadal Zone. Available at: https://www.euston96.com/zona-hadal/
  • Ramรญrez-Llodra, E., & Billett, DS (2006). Ecosystems of marine depths: privileged reservoir of biodiversity and technological challenges.
  • (SN). Hadal Zone. Available at: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/zona_hadal
Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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