Loosely, in the middle of the ocean in terms of depth Technically, the pelagic zone is the ecological realm that includes the entire ocean water column
Referring to the open sea at all depths (pelagic animals live in the open sea and are not limited to the ocean bottom)
Pelagic organisms swim through the ocean, and may rise to the surface, or sink to the bottom They are not confined to live on the bottom as benthic organisms do
Referring to open water marine habitats free of direct influence of the shore or ocean bottom Pelagic organisms are generally free-swimming (nektonic) or floating (planktonic)
refers to fishes which inhabit open waters or near the surface, or to eggs or larvae which occur in these areas; pelagic eggs are buoyant or semi buoyant
Descriptive of organisms that inhabit open water, as opposed to benthic This is sometimes divided into five separate ecological zones which are, proceeding from the surface to the bottom, the epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic and hadopelagic zones See Bruun (1957)
Pertaining to organisms that swim or drift in a sea or lake, as distinct from those that live on or near the bottom Includes plankton, fish species (e g , herring, capelin), and oceanic birds
The division of the ocean that includes the whole mass of water; it is divided into the neritic zone (water depth 0600 feet) and the oceanic zone (water deeper than 600 feet)
living in the water column (Opposite: benthic) - free-swimming (nektonic) or floating (planktonic) organisms that live exclusively in the water column, not on the bottom
relating to or occurring or living in or frequenting the open ocean; "oceanic islands like Bermuda"; "oceanic currents"; "oceanic birds"; "pelagic organisms"; "pelagic whaling"