| Seminar Introduction |
![[image]](amphipod1.jpg) | | Southampton Oceanography Centre |
Earth is dominated by its oceans. They cover two-thirds of its surface, and may harbour more species than all the Earth's other environments put together. Yet, for most of us, the deep oceans and the strange animals that inhabit them are as alien and remote as the surface of the moon. Only 150 years ago the best-informed scientists thought that the depths of the seas were totally lifeless. We now know that animal life is to be found everywhere in the oceans, even at the bottom of the deepest trenches and around super-heated water gushing through cracks in the sea floor. This seminar takes us down to the mysterious world at the bottom of the sea to explore what we know--or think we know--of life in the deep oceans.
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| Learning Objectives |
- Define the oceans' four vertical life zones.
- Compare and contrast the species-poor mid-waters of the deep ocean with the highly biodiverse sea floors.
- Describe the fish and other creatures that live on the deep-sea floor and their extraordinary adaptations to this extreme environment.
- Reveal the truth behind the myths of deep-sea monsters.
- Understand how fantastic communities of animals flourish around deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
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| Sessions |
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| Credits |
Copyright the Natural History Museum
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| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them.
Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must have JavaScript enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56K modem with throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
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