Benthos

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Benthos

Benthos (pronunciation: /ˈbɛnθɒs/) is a term used in aquatic ecology to refer to the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the seabed, river, lake, or stream bottom, also known as the benthic zone.

Etymology

The term "Benthos" is derived from the Greek word βένθος, meaning "depths of the sea".

Definition

Benthos is the community of organisms which live on, in, or near the seabed, the area known as the benthic zone. This community lives in or near marine sedimentary environments, from tidal pools along the foreshore, out to the continental shelf, and then down to the abyssal depths.

Types of Benthos

There are three types of benthos:

  • Epifauna, which live on the surface of the seabed or attached to substrates
  • Infauna, which live within the seabed
  • Meiofauna, which live in between grains of sediment

Related Terms

  • Benthic zone: The ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or stream, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers.
  • Pelagic zone: The open water area of seas or bodies of fresh water, located above the benthic zone.
  • Demersal zone: The part of the sea or ocean (or deep lake) comprising the water column that is near to (and is significantly affected by) the seabed and the benthos.

External links

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