The ecology of deep-sea benthig fishes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Despite the relative stability of physico-chemical factors of the deep sea, it has been shown that a cyclic activity exists in the growth, reproduction, and feeding of some abyssal fishes. Viviparity and hermaphroditism are two rather frequent phenomena among such fishes. The trophic ecology of different species is particularly interesting, because it makes it possible to distinguish several ecological types and to refute certain false ideas such as ‘Macrourids are sediment eaters’. Euryphagy and microphagy seem to constitute adaptations to life in abyssal regions. Growth which has been studied mainly in macrourids, appears to be definitely much slower than in fishes belonging to other biotopes. Geographical distribution is quite noteworthy when it concerns abyssal fish: for example, a single species can be found at antipodal points. The deep-sea currents have a particular role in the faunal exchanges between the great ocean basins.