2. By: Joie Oliver

3. The Open Ocean is divided into many zones. The Main Zones are Epipelagic Mesopelagic Bathypelagic Abssopelagic Hadalpelagic The Bathypelagic, Abyssopelagic, and Hadalpelagic zones are very equal in characteristics. Some marine biologists consider them all one big layer, but others think the latter of the two should be combined. Most scientists don’t even believe the Abyssopelagic to be a zone. As you can see, there are many ideas regarding theses zones. Epipelagic- sunlit zone. It’s the surface zone where there is enough light for photosynthesis. Lots of plants and fish live here like tuna and jellyfish. Mesopelagic- twilight zone. This zone is barely lit up by light, but doesn’t get enough for photosynthesis. At about 1,640 ft there is no oxygen, but still lots of life lives down here like squids and swordfish. Bathypelagic- dark zone. Here, the ocean is almost completely dark, excluding special fish who have adaptations to live down here like the lanternfish. There are no living plants and most creatures live off of debris that floats down from higher zones. The giant squid lives here, and is hunted by the deep diving sperm whale. Abyssopelagic- no light can go to this depth. It’s name is derived from the Greek word ábyssos, which mean bottomless. Hadalpelagic- This is the deep water in ocean trenches. Very few species live here, but the small number that does, live in hydrothermal vents.

4. The Open Ocean is located anywhere there is an ocean! Really, it’s more in the middle of oceans, out far from the shoreline. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans include a great amount of the Open Ocean Biome.

5. Lantern Fish- Also known as, Symbolophorus barnardi, has the ability to produce light using tiny organs called photophores. That helps it see in the dark Bathypelagic Zone. Giant Tube Worm- Also known as, Riftia pachyptila, or Beard Worm. It adapted to living in hydrothermal vents by not relying on the sun for energy. It eats small bacteria, that get their energy from chemicals in the water.

6. Oil Spills Oil Spills in Alaska and all over the world greatly effect the Ocean. Oil can seep into animals skin and poison them. It weights down animals making them drown. It also kills plants. The land near the spill isalso in danger. It makes erosion hard and the clean up is even worse. Pollution Pollution and litter can take over the Ocean. Trash from all over the world is just thrown on the ground, sucked into sewage pipes, then put into the Ocean for animals to choke on or get poisoned from. Doing little things like throwing things away in a trash can, or cutting up the holes in 6 packs of soda, can really make a difference in our ecosystem.

7. Special thanks to: http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/cu r/bio_99/p7/ds_sw_p7/open_ocean. htm wikipedia.com Seasky.org