Euphotic Zone (6)

There are different zones in the sea and i will be talking about the layer of sea water that receives enough sunlight for photosynthesis for plants and phytoplankton to occur.

Like plants, phytoplankton uses carbon dioxide and releases oxygen to convert minerals to a form food source for sea organisms to feed on. 

This layer is also known as Euphotic Zone/Sunlit Zone.

In this zone, there is enough light for photosynthesis. Which means many plants and photosynthetic organisms live here and food is abundant. About 90% of all marine life live in this zone due to high amounts of food.

There is high dissolved oxygen and low dissolved oxygen in this zone. This is because of the high amounts of sunlight which causes the plants to photosynthesize causing high levels of dissolved oxygen. This is another reason why marine life live in this zone. 

This is important because if the sunlight is too low and the rate of respiration is faster than the rate of photosynthesis, the phytoplankton cannot survive (primary producers which uses sunlight as a source of food). 

Examples of Marine Life living in the Euphotic Zone

• Angelfish are brightly-colored, flattened fish that live in shallow warm waters.

• Pufferfish are a type of poisonous fish that can swallow water to double its size.

How do some of the animals camouflage from its predators?

• Some of the animals in the Euphotic Zone have countershading.
• It is when an animal is light on its underside and dark on its upper parts. 
• When a predator looks down at a countershaded animal, it blends into the darker waters
• When a predator looks at a countershaded animal from below, the light underbelly disappears into the light. 
• This adaptation helps camouflage the organism, hiding it from predators and allowing it to sneak up on prey. 
• Most sharks, for example, are countershaded.
• To ensure that there is minimal silhouette is cast.