Biodiversity
Brain
Genetics
Marine BiOLogy
MicrobiOLogy
PaleontOLogy
ZoOLogy
AnthropOLogy
ArchaeOLogy
Astronomy
Climate Change
Earth
Physics
Water
Think & Link
How are organisms in this ecosystem connected?
READ a clue question and then FIND and CLICK on the organism. When you have found them all, explore more connections!
You're now in the deep sea. 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) below the surface!
I just spotted a small shark! It has a weird greenish glow on its belly. Can you find it?
You found it!
The cookie-cutter shark is one of the smallest sharks. Its body has light-producing organs called photophores. The glow helps attract prey.
Can you find a squid that has noticed the shark’s bioluminescent belly?
That's right!
The cock-eyed squid has a large, yellow eye that points up. It also has a small, blue eye that points down.
What glowing fish might be this squid’s next meal?
Yup, that’s it!
When a male lantern fish looks for a mate, he searches for a female lantern fish that has an attractive light pattern.
What see-through red creature paddling by may soon be gobbled up?
Correct!
Lantern fish love to feast on bloodybelly comb jellies.
If this jelly can avoid being eaten, what tiny creature that lives in one place might it eat?
You found it!
Tunicates are nicknamed sea squirts. They stay in one place for their whole adult life. Animals that do this are described as “sessile.” Their food needs to come to them.
What satisfies a tunicate’s appetite?
Good job!
Tunicates eat sea snow. It’s a nutritious blend of dead plankton, animal carcasses, and fecal matter that drifts down.
Congratulations!
You found some of the many connections in the mysterious deep sea.
You're now in the deep sea. 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) below the surface!
I just spotted a small shark! It has a weird greenish glow on its belly. Can you find it?
Image Credits:
Wave pattern, created by Dmitry Kovalev from the Noun Project; Luke's photo, courtesy of Luke; Illustrations, AMNH / Sean Murtha.