pelagiaalsed

Pelagiaalsed refers to organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of the ocean. This zone encompasses the entire water column, from the surface to the seabed, excluding the immediate vicinity of the coast and the seafloor itself. Pelagic organisms are free-swimming or drifting, as opposed to benthic organisms that live on or in the bottom.

The pelagic zone is further subdivided into several layers based on depth, each with distinct environmental conditions such as light penetration, temperature, and pressure. These subdivisions include the epipelagic zone (sunlit), mesopelagic zone (twilight), bathyal zone, abyssal zone, and hadal zone. Organisms adapted to these different depths are called pelagic.

Pelagic life is incredibly diverse and includes a vast array of plankton (phytoplankton and zooplankton), which are drifters, as well as nekton, which are active swimmers. Phytoplankton, microscopic plants, form the base of the oceanic food web through photosynthesis. Zooplankton are small animals that feed on phytoplankton or other zooplankton. Nekton includes fish, marine mammals, squid, and many other larger, mobile creatures. Many pelagic organisms undertake vertical migrations, moving to shallower waters at night to feed and returning to deeper waters during the day to avoid predators. The study of pelagic life is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems, fisheries, and the global carbon cycle.