The Abyss Box is a vessel containing 16 litres (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) of water at the very high pressure of 18 megapascals to simulate the natural underwater environment of bathyal fauna living at about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) below the surface. [1] It is on display at Oceanopolis aquarium in Brest, France. [1] [2] It was designed by French researcher Bruce Shillito from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. [3]
All the equipment maintaining the extreme pressure inside the Abyss Box weighs 600 kilograms (1,300 lb). [1] The device keeps deep-dwelling creatures alive so they can be studied, especially regarding their adaptability to warmer ocean temperatures. [1] Currently the Abyss Box houses only common species of deep sea creatures including a deep sea crab, Bythograea thermydron and a deep sea prawn, Pandalus borealis, which are some of the hardier species with a higher survival rate in depressurized environments. [4] The fauna on display were collected by Victor 6000, a specialised remotely operated vehicle (ROV). [5]
The Abyss Box is a vessel containing 16 litres (3.5 imp gal; 4.2 US gal) of water at the very high pressure of 18 megapascals to simulate the natural underwater environment of bathyal fauna living at about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) below the surface. [1] It is on display at Oceanopolis aquarium in Brest, France. [1] [2] It was designed by French researcher Bruce Shillito from Pierre and Marie Curie University in Paris. [3]
All the equipment maintaining the extreme pressure inside the Abyss Box weighs 600 kilograms (1,300 lb). [1] The device keeps deep-dwelling creatures alive so they can be studied, especially regarding their adaptability to warmer ocean temperatures. [1] Currently the Abyss Box houses only common species of deep sea creatures including a deep sea crab, Bythograea thermydron and a deep sea prawn, Pandalus borealis, which are some of the hardier species with a higher survival rate in depressurized environments. [4] The fauna on display were collected by Victor 6000, a specialised remotely operated vehicle (ROV). [5]