Distinguish between Biota of the Pelagic and Benthic zones of the Oceans with examples. within 150 words
Hello aspirant,
The benthic zone is one of the ecological regions of a body of water. It comprises the bottom—such as the ocean floor or the bottom of a lake—the sediment surface, and some sub-surface layers. Organisms living in this zone—that is, on or in the bottom of the body of water—are called benthos.
Benthic zone is the layer closer to the bottom of a water body, whereas pelagic zone refers to the uppermost layers of a water body. ... Referring to the open sea, benthic zone is characterized by low temperatures, low dissolved oxygen levels, low/no light, and high pressures.
Example : Benthos include worms, clams, crabs, lobsters, sponges, and other tiny organisms that live in the bottom sediments. Whereas, In Pelagic zone plants are in the form of rooted micro algae. This includes the phyto and zooplankton.
Benthic zone includes the rooted submerged plants and animals. The animals like crabs, fishes, prawns, and lobsters will remain on the bottom of the oceanic layer. Thankyou