Ocean Light Zones Adaptations

The Three Light Zones

Sunlight zone

Twilight zone

The Sunlit Zone

This is the top layer, nearest the surface. More than 90% of all marine life lives in the sunlit zone.

Sunlit ZonePhytoplankton adaptation is to have

oil inside their cells which allows them to float to the top of the ocean. They can only survive

where there is sunlight.

Sunlit Zone

• Adaptation-countershading-body is dark on top, light on bottom, so the predators from below will think they see the sunlight and not the animal.

Predators from above will have a hard time seeing the animal’s dark body against the dark waters below.

Dolphins travel through both twilight and sunlit zones and have to come up for air periodically.

Sunlit Zone

Adaptation: Countershading-dark on top; light on bottom

Sea Turtle

Twilight Zone

This is the murky dim part of the ocean. Only a small amount of light can go through the water at this level. Plants do not grow here. Only animals who have adapted to little light can survive.

Twilight Zone

Lantern fish have large eyes to help them collect as much light as possible to see.

These are two kinds of lantern fish, both with large eyes.

Twilight Zone

Cuttlefish Adaptations: Camouflage-Its body changes colors to hide from predators. Also its large eyes help it collect as much light as possible.

Camouflage in the cuttlefish…

Midnight Zone

90% of the ocean is in the midnight zone. It is entirely dark-there is no light. The temperature is near freezing.

Living things in the midnight zone are bioluminescent.

Many animals have very sharp teeth and very large mouths to help them capture prey.

Midnight Zone

Angler fish: It has the the adaptation of bioluminescence in the light hanging from it’s head. The glowing light attracts and tricks prey into being eaten!

Another adaptation: large sharp teeth and big mouth so its prey won’t get away so easily in the dark!

Midnight Zone

Adaptation: Bioluminescence in the dumbo octopus

Here you can see it “glows”!

Midnight Zone

Fang Tooth: Adaptation is very large mouths with sharp teeth for a better catch!

Midnight ZoneBlindness is replaced by stronger

senses such as the sense of taste at the tips of this tripod fish’s fins