benthic species
Ocean floor creatures
Benthic species are organisms that live on or near the bottom of bodies of water—oceans, lakes, rivers.
The term covers everything from bottom-dwelling fish and crabs to worms, clams, and microorganisms in sediment.
Pollution often affects benthic species first, since toxins settle to the bottom.
Scientists study benthic communities as indicators of water quality and ecosystem health.
- seafloorOcean's solid base
- ocean floorUnderwater continental surface
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- muddyObscured by silt
- deep-seaOf ocean depths
hydrothermal vent · bottom-dwelling · bottom feeders · crabs · worms · clams · mussels · starfish · brittle stars · sea urchins · sea cucumbers · coral · substrate · detritus · burrowing · filter-feeding · marine · abyssal
- spongessponge, sponges, sea sponge, marine sponges, natural sponge
- trilobitestrilobites, glabella, thorax, exoskeleton, compound eyes
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