marine biotechnology

1. Deep sea adaptations
Dr.Shaleesha A. Stanley
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
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2. Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
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3. Metabolic Potentials of Deep-Sea Fishes
Ⅰ Selectively Important Features of the Deep-sea Environment
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
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5. MESOPELAGIC:
1. Below the epipelagic zone
2. No primary photosynthesis, but there is still productivity
(i.e. still in the photic zone but it is disphotic)
3. 200-1000 m depth
BATHYPELAGIC, ABYSSOPELAGIC
1. The “deep sea,” aphotic, twilight zone
2. After 1000 m in depth (to ocean floor)
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
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6. WHAT IS THE “WATER CHEMISTRY” IN THIS LAYER?
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7. Where does the oxygen come from?
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8. WHO LIVES THERE &WHAT SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
DO THEY HAVE (and why)?
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9. PROBLEMS OF DEEP LIVING
PRESSURE – increases by 1 atmosphere per 10m in
depth
LIGHT – little light penetrates deeper than 200m
TEMPERATURE – The coldest waters are found in the
deepest depths – only a few oC
LACK OF NUTRIENTS – low densities of organisms and
virtually no producers (<5% of photic zone)
However the seabed is rich with decaying organisms
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10. DEEP ZONES
MESOPELAGIC – ‘THE TWILIGHT ZONE’
200m-1000m
Minute amounts of light – many species with
acute visual organs
BATHYPELAGIC – ‘THE DARK ZONE’
Marine organisms may have eyes for detecting
bioluminescent organisms – or none at all
Highly developed lateral lines or antennae detect
movement in the water
Or find prey, mates etc. by taste/smell 10
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley

11. ADAPTATIONS TO DEEP LIVING
ENLARGED AND SPECIALISED EYES – many
low light sensitive rod cells to detect what
little light there is (but color blind)
Mesopelagic – minute amounts of light from
the surface
Bathypelagic – light from bioluminescence
TELESCOPE EYES – As in Gigantura – to give better
binocular vision for hunting
UPWARD POINTING EYES – Looking towards the surface –
to see the silhouette of fish swimming above against the
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faint light of the surface

12. HIDING IN THE DARK
TRANSPARENCY – what light there is passes
through these organisms – making them
invisible
REFLECTIVE – mirror like scales reflect what light
there is, so the fish match the background – no
silhouette
PHOTOPHORES – Light emitting organs on
the ventral surface faintly lights their
underside –silhouette does not stand out
RED PIGMENTS – Red light is the first to
disappear. Red pigmented organisms appear
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black (camouflaged) in the deep ocean

13. BIOLUMINESENCE
Light emitting organs have a variety of uses:
HEADLIGHTS – producing light
to see prey
LURES – to attract prey
MATE ATTRACTION
COMMUNICATION - especially
in squid
DECOYS and SMOKESCREENS
– squid squirt luminous ink to startle
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
predators & hide their escape
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14. DINING IN THE DEEP
LARGE TEETH & DISTENDED JAWS – allow
capture and killing of prey much larger than
normally possible – can be more opportunistic
about prey captured
DISTENDABLE STOMACHS –digest prey
much larger than normally possible over a
long period of time
LOW METABOLIC RATES – therefore little energy is
required to keep the organism functioning – less
food needed
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15. Everything has a BIG MOUTH
Everything is LONG and “SKINNY”
Everything is BIGGER
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16. Mesopelagic, Bathypelagic and Abyssopelagic zone species have many
unique characteristics to adapt to their “extreme environment.”
(1) Fish show different characteristics…
(a) Based on light availability:
--higher eyes; 2 fields of vision
--photophores; bioluminescence, counter shading
(b) “other” adaptations:
-- musculature changes
-- jaw adaptations
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17. w/o photophores
Photophores
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18. Credit: © HBOI/Visuals Unlimited
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
The Fangtooth (Anoplogaster cornuta) is a bioluminescent fish found in the deep sea.
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19. Credit: © HBOI/Visuals Unlimited
Dr.Shaleesha Stanley
Angler Fish (Melanocetus johnsonii) uses lights to attract prey, an example of
bioluminescence.
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20. Credit: © HBOI/Visuals Unlimited
Stomias deep-sea bioluminescent fish.
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22. The “Deep” Marine Community –Hydrothermal vents!
Deep-sea hot springs, recently discovered along the axes of ridge and
rise systems, support unique communities of deep-sea animals and
bacteria.
Seep communities are more dispersed in areas where hydrocarbons,
particularly methane or other natural gases, are percolating up through
deep-sea sediments.
Dissolved H2S emerging from seafloor cracks is used as an energy
source by chemosynthetic bacteria
These bacteria become the source of nutrition for dense populations of
the unique animals clustered around these springs.
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23. Hydrothermal vents!
1.
2.
Life in extreme environments
Life independent of sun
Photosynthesis  uses sunlight + carbon dioxide  coverts to food
Chemosynthesis  uses sulfur + carbon dioxide  converts to food
Photosynthesis reaction:
CO2 + H2O + sunlight  CH2O + O2
Chemosynthesis reaction:
O2 + CO2 + H2O + H2S  CH2O + H2SO4
where H2S is hydrogen sulfide,
H2SO4 is sulfuric acid, and
CH2O is “food” or organic material
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