The ocean’s surface waters and the deep sea provide contrasting living conditions for marine animals. The deep sea is cold with high pressure and limited food and oxygen, while the surface is warm with low pressure and more food and oxygen. The ctenophore (aka comb jelly) Bolinopsis infundibulum has evolved to survive in both habitats. Steven Haddock’s research group is part of an international team of scientists collaborating on the MBARI- and NSF-funded Diversity, Ecology, and Ecophysiology of Ctenophores (DEEPC) project. Among many questions they are attempting to answer about ctenophores, the team is comparing the physiology, proteins, and genes of individual comb jellies like this one that live at the extremes of the depth range. This work gives insight to how marine organisms adapt to life in the deep sea. Photo by Shannon Johnson. #DEEPC #combjellies #ctenophore #Bolinopsis #MBARI #marinelife #deepsealife #deepsea #ocean #oceanlife #sealife #midwater #pelagic #plankton #mesopelagic #MBARI #marinebiology #gelata #gelatinouszoplankton #theresnosuchthingasajellyfish