4. READ: Abyssal & Bathal Zones: Deep Sea Benthic Organisms



benthic
Deep sea benthic organisms must learn to adapt to the cold, dark, high-pressure environments of the deep sea. Photo courtesy of neptunecanada/Flickr.

Deep sea benthic organisms are located primarily in the abyssal and bathal habitat zones. Organisms that live here adapt to the darkness by the use of bioluminescence, an increased sense of smell, and extra appendages. They also must learn to adapt to the high water-pressure environment, cold temperatures, and limited food supplies. Often, deep sea benthic organisms' body functions are completed at a much slower rate, to conserve energy. Eating styles also emphasize conservation of energy, including a "sit and wait" style of predation or a filter-feeding type of consumption. Deep sea ecosystems are provided with energy from the process of chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis, since they are located in the aphotic zone of the ocean.