1. The open water column of the ocean, excluding the seafloor and coastal areas, divided into epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, and abyssopelagic zones based on depth and light penetration
Many species of fish and marine mammals inhabit the pelagic zone.
Muitas espécies de peixes e mamíferos marinhos habitam a zona pelágica.
2. The ecological region of the open ocean characterized by the absence of a sea bottom and occupied primarily by floating and swimming organisms
The pelagic zone supports diverse ecosystems at different depths.
A zona pelágica sustenta ecossistemas diversos em diferentes profundidades.