08/11/09
Is it total darkness in the deep ocean? What adaptations do animals need in order to survive? —Molly and Beverly, teachers from Forsyth Co.
In the deep ocean there is no sunlight at all, but many of the deepwater organisms produce a chemical light. We can see bioluminescence from the windows of the submersible when we turn off all of the lights. Some organisms have really big eyes to help them detect the minimal light that is produced; other organisms are blind. Many animals have special coloration (primarily red and orange) so they appear to be invisible in the limited light. We are still trying to figure out if other senses come into to play such as “tasting” the water, or detecting changes in water pressure. Just like an animal on land, the animals in the deep ocean are adapted for life in their specific environment.
