Marine Science for Kids by Bethanie Hestermann

Author:Bethanie Hestermann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 2017-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Brittle stars are a group of sea stars that can live in very deep places. NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010

Large, pale crustaceans called giant isopods also creep in the deep mud. Known to grow to be more than a foot (30 cm) in length, giant isopods have strong exoskeletons that help protect them from predators. Similar to pill bugs or “roly-polies” you might find on the sidewalk, giant isopods can curl themselves into a ball when threatened.

A tripod fish perches on the seafloor. NOAA Okeanos Explorer Program, INDEX-SATAL 2010, NOAA/OER

Because food can be scarce in the deep, giant isopods can slow their heartbeat to use less energy. Using this strategy, giant isopods can survive without eating, if needed, for years. When a food source finally does come along, giant isopods gorge themselves to make up for lost time.

Deep-Sea Communities

Every once in a while, a humongous gift in the form of a dead whale drifts down from above and lands on the seafloor. When this happens, creatures from all around come to enjoy the banquet. The carcass, and the community that gathers around it, is called a whale fall.

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