Benthic community

Pronunciation
/BEN-thik kom-muh-ni-tee/
Category
Aquatic Ecology
Singular
Benthic community
Plural
Benthic communities

Definition

A community of organisms that live on or in the bottom sediment (benthos) of a lake, river, or other aquatic environment.

Etymology

From Greek 'benthos', meaning 'bottom'.

Example

The benthic community of a deep lake is dominated by invertebrates like worms and crustaceans.

Related Terms

  • Habitat
  • Bottom sediment
  • Aquatic
  • Benthos