benthic
Of the depths
Benthic describes the ecological zone at the bottom of a body of water—ocean floor, lake bed, river bottom.
Benthic organisms live in or on this substrate: crabs, clams, bottom-feeding fish, worms burrowing in sediment.
Benthic communities are sensitive indicators of water quality.
The term appears in marine biology and environmental science.
Extremely deep, unmeasurable
- littoralRelating to seashores
- neriticOf shallow coastal waters
- mesopelagicMid-depth ocean layer
- seafloorOcean's solid base
photic · aphotic · intertidal
Relating to feeding
- detritivoreEats dead organic material
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- chemosynthesisEnergy from chemical reactions
- biogeochemicalLife-geology-chemistry interactions
biodiversity · biomass · recruitment · succession · filter-feeding · scavenging · predation · symbiosis
Waterborne earth particles
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- sandFine rock particles
- mudWet soil mixture
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
substrate · detritus · ooze · carbonate · particle · compaction · lamination · burrows
Exoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- mollusksSoft-bodied invertebrates, often shelled
- nematodesCylindrical unsegmented worms
- echinodermsSpiny-skinned marine invertebrates
- spongesPorous absorbent masses
bivalves · gastropods · amphipods · isopods · macrofauna
Subaqueous topographical measurement
- ROVPiloted-from-above underwater craft
- submersibleUnderwater exploration vehicle
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
- oceanographyScientific study of seas
abyssal
Extremely deep, unmeasurable
- littoralRelating to seashores
- neriticOf shallow coastal waters
- mesopelagicMid-depth ocean layer
seafloor · photic · aphotic · intertidal
trophic
Relating to feeding
- detritivoreEats dead organic material
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- chemosynthesisEnergy from chemical reactions
biogeochemical · biodiversity · biomass · recruitment · succession · filter-feeding · scavenging · predation · symbiosis
silt
Waterborne earth particles
gravel · substrate · detritus · ooze · carbonate · particle · compaction · lamination · burrows
crustaceans
Exoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- mollusksSoft-bodied invertebrates, often shelled
- nematodesCylindrical unsegmented worms
- echinodermsSpiny-skinned marine invertebrates
sponges · bivalves · gastropods · amphipods · isopods · macrofauna
bathymetry
Subaqueous topographical measurement
- ROVPiloted-from-above underwater craft
- submersibleUnderwater exploration vehicle
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
coral-reef
Submarine calcium carbonate ecosystem
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- habitat typesaquatic, terrestrial, arboreal, marine, freshwater
- freshwater sciencefreshwater lakes, lake management, lake depth, water chemistry, dissolved oxygen
- biology termscell, DNA, genetics, genetic, evolution
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- fishingfishing rod, fish, angling, bass fishing, fishing gear
benthicpelagic
Of the open sea
planktonic · free-swimming · free-floating · mesopelagic · floating
- benthic speciesOrganisms inhabiting water body floors
- benthic communitiesOrganisms inhabiting water body floors