Flora of the Pelagic Zone
The pelagic zone of a water body is not connected to any landmass and thus there are no rooted plants present here. Any macroscopic plants cannot survive in the deeper layers of the pelagic zone due to the lack of sunlight and nutrients. Therefore, the flora of the Pelagic Zone is predominantly microscopic cyanobacteria and floating algae like phytoplanktons, diatoms, and dinoflagellates. These serve as primary food for smaller fishes and are important in the marine food web.
Pelagic Zone
The pelagic zone is the open ocean’s water column, which extends from the surface to the bottom. Another name for it is the wide ocean. The phrase “open sea” (pélagos) in Ancient Greek is where the word “pelagic” originates. The five depth zones that make up the pelagic zone each have unique marine life and environmental characteristics.
The pelagic zone consists of pelagic zone animals and plants. In this article, we will study the definition of the pelagic zone, the different layers of the pelagic zone, the flora and fauna found in the pelagic zone, the human impact, and its conservation.
Table of Content
- Definition of the Pelagic Zone
- What is Pelagic Zone?
- Sub-Zones of Pelagic Zone
- Flora of the Pelagic Zone
- Pelagic Zone Animals
- Human Impact and Conservation
- Conclusion: Pelagic Zone