A zone of the ocean between the sublittoral and abyssal, the continental slope, within a depth of 200 lo 3000 m. Its population is poor, existing at the expense of organic matter from the surface layers. Among invertebrates, there are many brachiopods, ten-legged crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, and others. Among fish, longtails and charcoal fish are common.
Conditions:
High pressure (up to 25 MN/m² or 250 kgf/cm²).
Almost total absence of light.
Small seasonal temperature variations.
Little seasonal variation in water density.
Water mobility - relatively weak, but much greater than in abyssals.
Bottom topography - dissected.
Seabed sediments are patchy and there are numerous bedrock outcrops.
There is a remarkable diversity in fauna, and in the lower bathyal there are many fish species, which are transitional to abyssal forms.
Vegetation is very poor due to lack of light.
Bathyal
Tags: Bathyal