Unusual Life of the Ocean - Research Paper Example

Unusual Life of Ocean Though deep underneath the surface of water, where light barely reaches, life is present there as well. Scientists discovered in 2011 in the Mariana Trench, deepest point in the Earth’s oceans, giant amoebas who have managed to withstand the pressure, unlike the scientists’ equipment, which had to be designed with additional support (Piper). Besides giant amoebas, called xenophyophores, other forms of life have managed to adapt to such extreme conditions as well, turning the darkest and deepest parts of this planet into alien – like gardens.

Xenophyophores were found to live 6.6 miles beneath the ocean’s surface. Their cells are the largest on this planet, with the ability to grow up to four inches (Piper). Though large, their ability to survive lies in their fragility. Their structure can easily be destroyed by a larger movement of water, yet they are able to absorb large amounts of water, mercury, lead and other metals, thus being immune to pollution. At the same time, they can grow in almost complete darkness, at a high pressure.

Besides xenophyophores, other forms of life exist at such deep levels. Jellyfish survive there as well (Piper). Over 200 different types of microorganisms were found to exist there as well (Dohrer). Unusual “translucent, sea-cucumber-like animals called holothurians” live there as well (Dohrer). Though also found on the surface, snails in the Trench have adapted to the pressure by developing soft shells (Dohrer). Though high pressure makes survival for most species impossible, in the Mariana Trench animal life managed to adapt.

Precisely because it is more fragile, life in the deep is more able to withstand the pressure and darkness than life forms we are accustomed to see. Works citedPiper, David. “Strange Life Found in Deepest Ocean.” Discovery News, 24 Oct. 2011. Web. 7 Feb 2013. . Dohrer, Elizabeth. “Mariana Trench: The Deepest Depths.” Live Science, 21 Sep. 2012. Web. 7 Feb 2013. .