BoomerD
Well-Known Member
Witfull said:a true Benthic zone is devoid of light though.
Well, that's what I always thought too Witty, but then I found these:
http://www.fathom.com/course/10701050/session2.html
"Benthic Greek word meaning 'depths of the sea' but applied specifically to the sea floor at all depths to distinguish it from the 'pelagic,' meaning the water column above the bottom."
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00116/benthic.htm
"Benthic, a term meaning bottom is the name of the ocean zone ranging from the deepest parts of the ocean to the tidal affected areas. The most productive region of the benthic zone is the area over the continental margin, which is unaffected by the tides. Many groups and varieties of animals live here, a few are worms, sea pens, crustaceans, stars, and protozoa. The life in this zone is mostly made up of bottom dwellers which get most of their food from dead and decaying organisms. Therefore most of the organisms in the benthic zone are scavengers because they depend on dead flesh as their main food source."
http://www.coast-nopp.org/resource_guide/elem_mid_school/ma_habitats_acts/bingo.html
"The benthic zone is defined as the bottom layer of the ocean. The ocean bottom is home to a diversity of organisms known as the benthos. A benthic community may exist in areas that are shallow or deep, warm or cold, or dark or bright. The organisms found in the benthic zone are directly related to the specific habitat type. Several factors control the distribution and diversity of benthic organisms. These factors include the amount of light, salinity or salt content of the water, temperature, food/nutrient availability, and the stability and type of substrate associated with the habitat. Crabs, lobsters, and clams are benthic organisms that may be found in a rocky intertidal habitat. Some near-shore benthic habitats contain seaweeds (non-vascular plants). Kelp is an example of a multicellular seaweed and a representative of the benthic community. This species of seaweed attaches to the bottom via a holdfast, which is a root-shaped structure. Other habitats with abundant benthic organisms may include coral reefs, oyster reefs, deep-ocean environments, salt marshes, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. "