Since no sunlight penetrates to these depths, the abyssal zone remains in darkness. The water has a temperature of about 37 degrees Fahrenheit, contains high levels of oxygen, but poor nutrient levels, according to researchers at the University of California Museum of Paleontology.
Chemosynthetic bacteria that utilize hydrogen sulfide from thermal vents represent a major source of food for invertebrates like tube worms, crustaceans and fishes, according to UCMP.
Life in the abyssal zone must be able to withstand the tremendous water pressures in the deep ocean environment. Humans have yet to do much research at these depths, according to the Wild Classroom.
