Benthic zone

The benthic zone is the lowest level of a body of water, such as an ocean or a lake. It is inhabited by organisms that live in close relationship with (if not physically attached to) the ground, called benthos or benthic organisms. Generally, these include life forms that tolerate cool temperatures and low oxygen levels, but this depends on the depth of the water. For information on animals that live in the deepest areas of the oceans see aphotic zone. The superficial layer of the soil lining the given body of water is an integral part of the benthic zone, as it influences greatly the biological activity which takes place there. Examples of contact soil layers include sand bottoms, rock outcrops, coral, and bay mud.

When looked at from this perspective, the body of water would then have another realm, the pelagic zone, which includes all that lives associated to the water column.

See also

• Deep sea
• Littoral
• Profundal zone
• Limnetic zone
• Lake stratification
• Benthos

References

• Fathom
• Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats from the UK Marine Data Archive Centre