Benthos

In marine geology and biology, benthos are the organisms and habitats of the sea floor; in freshwater biology they are the organisms and habitats of the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and creeks.

From the size of organisms there are distinguished

• macrobenthos , size > 1 mm
• meiobenthos, size > 0.063 mm
• microbenthos , size <0.063 mm

Benthic organisms play a great role as food for fish and humans, but also as destruents .