450
MALCOLM S. CORDON
been at the behavioral level. Similar diversity exists there ( Knight-Jones
and Morgan, 1966).
The vast majority of experimental studies of pressure effects on higher
organisms carried out to date has dealt with surface dwelling or relatively
shallow water forms. It has only been within the past few years that
physiological experiments have begun on some of the most accessible of
the deep-sea creatures, namely, members of the vertically migratory deep
scattering layer communities (Napora, 1964; Teal, 1966; Teal and Carey,
1967; Pearcy and Small, 1968; Gordon, 1970). The technical problems
associated with such work are considerable. However, the prospective
gains in understanding which should come from studies of organisms
which have evolved adaptations to high pressures over very long periods
of time should make these efforts amply worthwhile.
11. FISHES LIVING UNDER HIGH PRESSURES
A. General Remarks
Although this discussion is intended to be primarily physiological, some
comments about other subjects seem nccessary. The kinds of fishes that
live under high pressures are rarely seen by most workers in fish physiology, and information on aspects of their structure and natural history is
widely scattered in the technical literature. The author knows of no
general discussion of the biology of deep water fishes which is directed
at professional biologists. Several semi-popular discussions are available,
including Marshall (1954, 1966) and Idyll (1964). A few topics have
been given thorough scientific review (Marshall, 1960; Denton, 1961;
Mead et al., 1964; parts of chapters by Munz, Steen, and Nicol in this
treatise). Current ideas on the phylogenetic and systematic relationships
of the teleosts among these fishes are summarized by Greenwood et al.
(1966).
Easily 95% of what we know about deep water fishes derives from
studies of dead specimens. The recent development of research submersibles has permitted a beginning at in situ observations of behavior,
ecological associations, etc., but only the first few steps toward full
understanding have been taken. No one has succeeded for more than
a few days in maintaining in captivity, alive and in good condition,
any really deep water fish (i.e., a species which normally occurs at
depths greater than 500 meters). At the present time we have no way
of deciding unequivocally to what extent high hydrostatic pressures have
MALCOLM S. CORDON
been at the behavioral level. Similar diversity exists there ( Knight-Jones
and Morgan, 1966).
The vast majority of experimental studies of pressure effects on higher
organisms carried out to date has dealt with surface dwelling or relatively
shallow water forms. It has only been within the past few years that
physiological experiments have begun on some of the most accessible of
the deep-sea creatures, namely, members of the vertically migratory deep
scattering layer communities (Napora, 1964; Teal, 1966; Teal and Carey,
1967; Pearcy and Small, 1968; Gordon, 1970). The technical problems
associated with such work are considerable. However, the prospective
gains in understanding which should come from studies of organisms
which have evolved adaptations to high pressures over very long periods
of time should make these efforts amply worthwhile.
11. FISHES LIVING UNDER HIGH PRESSURES
A. General Remarks
Although this discussion is intended to be primarily physiological, some
comments about other subjects seem nccessary. The kinds of fishes that
live under high pressures are rarely seen by most workers in fish physiology, and information on aspects of their structure and natural history is
widely scattered in the technical literature. The author knows of no
general discussion of the biology of deep water fishes which is directed
at professional biologists. Several semi-popular discussions are available,
including Marshall (1954, 1966) and Idyll (1964). A few topics have
been given thorough scientific review (Marshall, 1960; Denton, 1961;
Mead et al., 1964; parts of chapters by Munz, Steen, and Nicol in this
treatise). Current ideas on the phylogenetic and systematic relationships
of the teleosts among these fishes are summarized by Greenwood et al.
(1966).
Easily 95% of what we know about deep water fishes derives from
studies of dead specimens. The recent development of research submersibles has permitted a beginning at in situ observations of behavior,
ecological associations, etc., but only the first few steps toward full
understanding have been taken. No one has succeeded for more than
a few days in maintaining in captivity, alive and in good condition,
any really deep water fish (i.e., a species which normally occurs at
depths greater than 500 meters). At the present time we have no way
of deciding unequivocally to what extent high hydrostatic pressures have