Mesopelagic

Mesopelagic

The mesopelagic (Greek μέσον, middle) (also known as the "middle pelagic" or "twilight zone") is a pelagic zone extending from 200 m (650 ft.) down to around 1000 m (3280 ft.) below sea level. It is located between the photic epipelagic and the aphotic bathypelagic, where there is no light at all. Although some light penetrates this deep, it is insufficient for photosynthesis. Though the temperature varies less at any one height than the epipelagic, the mesopelagic is the location of the thermocline, with temperatures varying from over 20°C at the top to around 4°C at the boundary with the bathyal zone. Animals such as swordfish, squids, wolf eels, cuttlefish, and other semi-deepsea creatures live here. Also, there is enough sunlight for animals, such as the chain catshark, to be fluorescent.


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  • mesopelagic — /mizoʊpəˈlædʒɪk/ (say meezohpuh lajik) adjective of, relating to, or inhabiting the mesopelagic zone. {meso + pelagic} …  

  • mesopelagic — ¦me|zō, ¦mē|, |sōˌ adjective Etymology: mes + pelagic : of, relating to, or inhabiting oceanic depths from about 600 to 3000 feet mesopelagic fish …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mesopelagic zone — Aquatic layers Pelagic    Photic       Epipelagic …   Wikipedia

  • mesopelagic — adjective Date: 1947 of or relating to oceanic depths from about 600 feet to 3000 feet (200 to 1000 meters) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mesopelagic — pertaining to the midwaters of the ocean between 200 and 1100 (or 100 1000m or 150 2000) metres (sources differ). Generally characterized by dim light and steep temperature gradients …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • mesopelagic — adj. [Gr. mesos, middle; pelagos, sea] Pertaining to the pelagic zone of intermediate depth of 200 1000 m; between the epipelagic and bathypelagic zones …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • mesopelagic — /mez euh peuh laj ik, mes , mee zeuh , seuh /, adj. Oceanog. of, pertaining to, or living in the ocean at a depth of between 600 ft. (180 m) and 3000 ft. (900 m). [1945 50; MESO + PELAGIC] * * * …   Universalium

  • mesopelagic — adjective Describing a pelagic zone of the oceans between the photic epipelagic and the aphotic bathypelagic zones …   Wiktionary

  • mesopelagic — Zone in the open ocean 200 1000m below the surface, or pertaining to it inhabitants [Butler, T.H.] …   Crustacea glossary

  • mesopelagic — [ˌmɛsə(ʊ)pɪ ladʒɪk, ˌmɛz , ˌmi:s , ˌmi:z ] adjective Biology inhabiting the intermediate depths of the sea …   English new terms dictionary

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