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Benthos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In oceanography, marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks. Animals belonging to the benthos are sometimes referred to as zoobenthos, while plants are referred to as phytobenthos.
Benthos can be categorized according to size:
- macrobenthos, size > 1 mm
- meiobenthos, size < 1 mm and > 32 µm
- microbenthos, size < 32 µm
But also according to their living place:
- endobenthos lives in the sediment
- epibenthos lives on top of the sediment
- hyperbenthos lives just above the sediment
Benthic organisms play an important role as a food source for fish and some also for humans.
Examples of benthic organisms are starfish, oysters, clams, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, anemones and seagrass.