Organisms in the Aphotic Zone
71 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water and the ocean holds about 96.5 percent of all earth’s water so it is not false when Arthur C. Clark said “how inappropriate to call this planet earth when it is clearly ocean”. Or when Phillip Diolé said “ The sea is an underwater museum still awaiting its visitors” because the ocean holds mysteries to be discovered, miracles to be witnessed and life to billions and trillions of life. In this vast ocean, beautiful creatures have adapted to live in the most unbelievable circumstances. It has shown us the power and astonishing miracles of nature. One of the ways it has demonstrated is by how the organisms are able to live in the Aphotic zone.
The ocean is divided into three broad categories. First is the euphotic zone, where the presence of light is massive hence, you will be able to find a variety of biodiversity. Then there is the disphotic zone where the sunlight penetration is not sustainable enough to support sunlight so most organisms travel up the euphotic zone for nutrition. And last is the Aphotic zone where there is high pressure, very cold water, less biodiversity and no light at all.
In the aphotic zone, where the surviving chance of any organism is almost zero, some organisms like Giant tube worm ,Vent shrimp, Scaly-foot gastropod and Pompeii worm have adapted themselves to live in these harsh conditions. Organisms here endure pressure more than 100 times at the surface and where one tectonic plate slides beneath another — A movement that triggers active earthquakes and tsunamis and volcanoes and that sometimes also reaches the coastal communities.
In order to survive, most organisms have adapted themselves in such a way that enables them to survive from the toxic external conditions like tough shells and for nutrition a specialised organ where they can host bacteria which assist them to obtain sufficient energy to survive through the process of Chemosynthesis.
It is so magical how one can learn to live in the most unexpected conditions just like the way these organisms are found in the depths of the ocean where there is no sunlight, plants, and are full of toxic gas like sulfide. .
