Fig. 1. Graphic representationofoceanvolumerelativetobottomdepth, illustrating thatthedeepoceanisthelargestlivingspaceonEarth.Thecurve shows theglobalvolumeofwateraboveseafloordepthsrangingfrom0to10.9km (the MarianaTrench).Theedgeofthecontinentalshelfatroughly200misthe traditional boundaryofthedeepsea.Ecologicaldepthzonesoftheoceanicwater column: epipelagic,upper150200m;mesopelagic,downto1000m;bath- ypelagic, 14km;abyssopelagic,48km;hadal,below8km.Thedisplayed volumes ofterrestrialandbenthicenvironmentsincludethesurfaceareasofthe dry landandtheseafloorandtheairorwaterabovetoaheightof1km.(From Robison, 2009; Datasource:UNAtlasoftheOceans- www.oceansatlas.org/).
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