Science·Animals of the World·conceptual
Deep-Sea Survival
Explain how deep-sea animals cope with crushing pressure (no gas-filled spaces, flexible proteins, pressure-adapted enzymes); describe thermoregulation extremes — antifreeze glycoproteins in Antarctic fish, supercooling in wood frogs; introduce tardigrades and cryptobiosis (surviving desiccation, extreme temperatures, radiation, vacuum); survey other extremophiles (thermophiles at hydrothermal vents, halophiles in salt flats); consider what these organisms tell us about the limits of life
Suggested ages 12–13
Evidence of understanding
No evidence statements are recorded.
Assessment prompt
Can Deep-Sea Survival describe an animal that can survive being frozen solid, completely dried out, or exposed to the vacuum of space — and explain roughly how it manages to survive conditions that would kill almost any other living thing?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.