Benthos are bottom-dwelling organisms, such as mussels, worms, and barnacles. Many benthic organisms live attached to hard surfaces. Decomposers, organisms that break down dead organisms, are also a type of aquatic organism.

Where do most benthic organisms live?

Benthos are the organisms that live at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its streams and rivers. The word benthos comes from a Greek term meaning “depths of the sea.” Benthic communities are complex and include a wide range of animals, plants and bacteria from all levels of the food web.

How do benthic organisms survive?

Many organisms adapted to deep-water pressure cannot survive in the upper parts of the water column. ... This dead and decaying matter sustains the benthic food chain; most organisms in the benthic zone are scavengers or detritivores. Some microorganisms use chemosynthesis to produce biomass.