pelagísk

Pelagísk is an Icelandic adjective meaning pelagic or relating to the open sea. It describes objects, habitats, or processes that occur in the pelagic zone of the ocean—the part of the marine environment away from the coast and from the seabed. The term is used in oceanography, marine biology, and fisheries to distinguish open-water environments from littoral (nearshore) and benthic (bottom) zones.

In oceanographic terms, pelagic environments encompass the water column from the surface to the deep open ocean. The pelagic realm is commonly subdivided into zones such as epipelagic (0–200 meters), mesopelagic (200–1000 meters), and deeper bathypelagic and abyssopelagic regions, with light, temperature, and nutrient availability changing with depth. These gradients shape the distribution and behavior of pelagísk life.

Species described as pelagísk typically lead a pelagic lifestyle, spending most of their lives in the water column rather than on or near the bottom. This includes many fish such as tunas and mackerels, as well as squids and marine mammals; numerous seabirds rely on pelagic prey found in open water.

Pelagic ecosystems are of major economic and ecological importance, supporting global fisheries and playing a role in biogeochemical cycles. They are studied to understand migratory patterns, climate signals, and how ocean productivity responds to environmental change.

See also: pelagic zone, open ocean, littoral zone.