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Reference.org
Demersal zone
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<p>The demersal zone is the part of the <a href="/facts/Sea/7eo8zrRW">sea</a> or <a href="/facts/Ocean/8W8lYgjD">ocean</a> (or deep <a href="/facts/Lake/YP0xxn0E">lake</a>) consisting of the part of the <a href="/facts/Water_column/RNQbAVJj">water column</a> near to (and significantly affected by) the <a href="/facts/Seabed/VvxuEWJu">seabed</a> and the <a href="/facts/Benthos/DeHzh0sN">benthos</a>. The demersal zone is just above the <a href="/facts/Benthic_zone/N3lM6P7I">benthic zone</a> and forms a layer of the larger <a href="/facts/Profundal_zone/jv2Yq3va">profundal zone</a>. </p><p>Being just above the ocean floor, the demersal zone is variable in depth and can be part of the <a href="/facts/Photic_zone/pTrzLGG5">photic zone</a> where light can penetrate, and photosynthetic organisms grow, or the <a href="/facts/Aphotic_zone/7SIwcqnV">aphotic zone</a>, which begins between depths of roughly 200 and 1,000 m (700 and 3,300 ft) and extends to the ocean depths, where no light penetrates. </p>