Scientists who capture fish from depths of 1000m or more for study have to bring them to the surface in pressurized containers. Why do they do this?
as they come up, external pressure lessens on their bodies, and they expand.
Scientists bring fish from depths of 1000m or more to the surface in pressurized containers for several reasons:
1. Decompression: Fish that live in deep waters are adapted to the high pressures found in those environments. Bringing them rapidly to the surface would subject them to a sudden decrease in pressure, causing decompression sickness or "the bends." By using pressurized containers, scientists can gradually decrease the pressure and allow the fish to adjust.
2. Study and observation: Bringing the fish to the surface allows scientists to study their physiology, behavior, and other characteristics that cannot be observed in their natural deep-sea habitat. This provides valuable insights into the adaptations these organisms have developed to survive in extreme deep-sea conditions.
3. Species identification: Deep-sea environments are home to many unique and poorly understood species. By capturing and bringing them to the surface, scientists can identify and study these species to gain a better understanding of biodiversity in the deep sea.
4. Experimental purposes: Scientists may also bring deep-sea fish to the surface for experimental purposes, such as determining their feeding habits, reproductive behavior, or response to environmental changes. These experiments can provide insights into how deep-sea ecosystems function and how they may be impacted by human activities.
Overall, capturing fish from deep depths and bringing them to the surface in pressurized containers allows scientists to study these organisms in more detail and improve our understanding of the deep-sea ecosystem.
Scientists capture fish from depths of 1000m or more in pressurized containers to prevent the fish from experiencing a sudden change in pressure, which is known as decompression sickness or "the bends."
When fish live at great depths, they are exposed to high pressures due to the weight of the water above them. Their bodies have adapted to these deep-sea conditions, which means they have adjusted to the high-pressure environment.
If a fish is suddenly brought to the surface without any pressurization, the pressure around it decreases dramatically. This rapid decrease in pressure can cause gases (nitrogen in particular) dissolved in the fish's tissues to rapidly expand into bubbles. These bubbles can cause serious damage to the fish's internal organs and tissues, leading to injury or even death.
By capturing the fish in pressurized containers, scientists can gradually bring them to the surface while maintaining the pressure around the fish at levels similar to those of their deep-sea habitat. This gradual decompression ensures that the fish can safely adjust to the changing pressure and prevents the formation of harmful gas bubbles.
In addition to pressurized containers, scientists also often use other techniques to minimize the impact of decompression. For example, decompression tanks may be used to remove excess gas buildup before releasing the fish back into the wild.