In marine biology, what is the difference between the photic and aphotic zones?
The photic zone refers to the portion of the water column in a lake, sea, or ocean that receives light, while the aphotic zone is the part of the water column that doesn’t. Because light is required to photosynthesize, a body of water’s primary productivity (the amount of biomass generated directly by the sun’s energy) is directly proportional to the size of the aphotic zone. Formally, the aphotic zone begins where less than 1% of light penetrates. In the ocean especially, the aphotic zone is a very deep area. It extends from 0.9 – 4.6 km (3,000 – 15,000 feet) in depth. A variety of bizarre animals live here, including the giant squid, vampire squid, gulper eel, angler fish, and many others. Quite a few animals in the aphotic zone are bioluminescent, that is, capable of generating their own light. Where the aphotic zone begins depends on the number of particles suspended in the water, a quality called turbidity. It ranges significantly based on the season, whether it has rained recentl
The photic zone refers to the portion of the water column in a lake, sea, or ocean that receives light, while the aphotic zone is the part of the water column that doesn’t. Because light is required to photosynthesize, a body of water’s primary productivity (the amount of biomass generated directly by the sun’s energy) is directly proportional to the size of the aphotic zone. Formally, the aphotic zone begins where less than 1% of light penetrates. In the ocean especially, the aphotic zone is a very deep area. It extends from 0.9 – 4.6 km (3,000 – 15,000 feet) in depth. A variety of bizarre animals live here, including the giant squid, vampire squid, gulper eel, angler fish, and many others. Quite a few animals in the aphotic zone are bioluminescent, that is, capable of generating their own light.
