Knowra Bathyal zone Bathyal zone The bathyal zone is the ocean region extending down continental slopes and rises, generally from about 200 to 3,000 meters deep. It lies between the sunlit continental shelf and the deep abyssal plain.
Continental slope : The steep seafloor descent from the continental shelf toward the deep ocean basin. Its descent forms much of the bathyal zone’s seafloor.
Hydrostatic pressure : The pressure exerted by water at a given depth, increasing with the weight of overlying water. Pressure rises sharply from the upper to the lower bathyal zone.
Remotely operated underwater vehicle : An uncrewed underwater vehicle controlled remotely, often carrying cameras and sampling equipment. ROVs document bathyal habitats and collect specimens beyond diver depths.
Giant squid : A large deep-sea squid species, Architeuthis dux, found in oceans worldwide. It inhabits deep waters, including parts of the bathyal zone.
Abyssal zone : The deep-ocean region below the bathyal zone, generally extending from about 3,000 to 6,000 meters. It begins below the bathyal zone’s usual lower boundary.
Marine snow : The continual fall of organic particles from upper waters toward the deep seafloor. It supplies much of the food reaching bathyal communities.
Deep-sea trawling : A fishing method that drags a net along or near the deep seafloor. Trawling removes bathyal species and can disturb slope habitats.
Sperm whale : A large toothed whale that dives to hunt squid and other prey in deep water. Its deep dives bring it into contact with bathyal food webs.
Continental shelf : The shallow, submerged edge of a continent, extending from the shore to the continental slope. It marks the shallow boundary above the bathyal zone.
Bioluminescence : The production and emission of light by living organisms through chemical reactions. Bathyal animals use biological light for signaling, camouflage, and prey capture.
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