•1 min read•from Oceanography News -- ScienceDaily
The deep ocean has a missing link and scientists finally found it
Our take
Scientists have made a significant discovery regarding the deep ocean's intricate food webs, revealing the critical role of mid-sized fish, specifically the bigscale pomfret. These fish inhabit the ocean's twilight zone during the day and ascend at night to feed, connecting deep and surface ecosystems. By utilizing satellite tags, researchers tracked these elusive fish for the first time, observing how their movements adjust with changing water clarity.
Scientists have uncovered why big predators like sharks spend so much time in the ocean’s twilight zone. The answer lies with mid-sized fish such as the bigscale pomfret, which live deep during the day and rise at night to feed, linking deep and surface food webs. Using satellite tags, researchers tracked these hard-to-study fish for the first time. Their movements shift with water clarity, potentially altering entire ocean food chains.
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