In the depths of the ocean, life operates at a slower pace, creating a realm of silence, emptiness, and darkness. This world within our world is a vast, formless void where incredible wonders drift. Each discovery brings us closer to understanding the complex processes at play in this fascinating environment. In 1843, naturalist Edward Forbes proposed the Abyssus theory, suggesting that marine life diminishes with depth and ceases entirely below 550 meters (1,800 feet). While this theory has since been disproven, we now know the deep sea is home to rich biodiversity across interconnected ecosystems.
Life in the deep sea thrives at chemosynthetic oases, such as cold seeps and hydrothermal vents, where bacteria convert hydrocarbons into food. These hotspots are bustling with life, yet other regions of the deep sea also harbor treasures, albeit adapted to different challenges. The non-chemosynthetic deep sea is divided into two distinct realms: the midwater, where pelagic wanderers and planktonic drifters light up the darkness with bioluminescence, and the benthos, the deep sea floor that resembles the surface of an alien planet.
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