Benthic ZoneBy: Alison H., Ally S.,

Emily S., and Gunnar C.

The Benthic Zone is…...• The deepest part of any body of

water• Coldest and darkest part and full of

SO much pressure people could EXPLODE!!

Depth & Location• The Benthic Zone is at the very

bottom of a freshwater or saltwater body

• It is beneath the surface zone, and goes ALL the way to the sediment floor

How Much Sunlight? Plants?• In most parts….NO SUN.• Plankton covers most of this layer, so

only certain areas are reached by the sun

• It is too dark for plants, none can survive

VIDEO!

Animal Life!!

• Most animals glow in the dark…and have tiny eyes…OR NONE AT ALL!!

• Shellfish, anglerfish, rattail fish, giant squids, octopi, gulper eels, lantern fish, and BLOBFISH are among the animals that live there

• No plant life lives here so these animals eat plankton and other animals that live in the deep

Hydrothermal Vents• Form when seawater meets hot magma• Places where tectonic plates move apart,

exposing the magma below• Seawater enveloped in hydrothermal vents can

reach 700 degrees Fahrenheit • Vents release chemicals that are used as food by the bacteria, that live there, keeping many creatures alive.

Interesting Facts:1. Animals that live in this zone are called Benthos2. Most of the Benthic Zone is unexplored…

because humans can’t survive the crushing pressure and vastness of the ocean

3. Animals glow to attract food4. Only a small amount of light from the sun

reaches the benthic zone. It is bluish-green because seawater absorbs red, orange and yellow sunlight and scatters violet light.