aphotic
(adjective)
describing that part of the deep oceans and lakes where photosynthesis is not possible
Examples of aphotic in the following topics:
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Abiotic Factors Influencing Aquatic Biomes
- At depths greater than 200 m, light cannot penetrate; thus, this is referred to as the aphotic zone.
- The majority of the ocean is aphotic, lacking sufficient light for photosynthesis.
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Freshwater Biomes
- At the bottom of lakes and ponds, bacteria in the aphotic zone break down dead organisms that sink to the bottom.
- As a result, the lake or pond becomes aphotic: photosynthetic plants cannot survive.
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Marine Biomes
- The majority of organisms in the aphotic zone include sea cucumbers and other organisms that survive on the nutrients contained in the dead bodies of organisms in the photic zone.