Lecture on Benthic Organisms

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to benthic organisms and their environments as discussed in the lecture.

Benthic Organism

An organism that lives on or in the bottom sediments or rocky substratum of aquatic environments.

Microbenthos

Benthic organisms measuring less than 0.1 mm in size.

Meiobenthos

Benthic organisms measuring between 0.1 mm and 1 mm in size.

Macrobenthos

Benthic organisms larger than 1 mm.

Endobenthos

Organisms that live buried in the sediment.

Epibenthos

Organisms that live on the surface of the sediment.

Hyperbenthos

Organisms that live just above the bottom or are closely associated with the bottom.

Intertidal Zone

The area between high tide and low tide where organisms experience varying exposure to water.

Supralittoral Zone

The area above the intertidal zone that is usually only submerged during the highest tides.

Sublittoral Zone

The zone of the ocean below the intertidal zone that extends to the continental shelf.

Nematocyst

A specialized cell in cnidarians used for capturing prey, containing a spring-loaded stinging structure.

Seaweed

A macroscopic, multicellular, and photosynthetic marine organism.

Phycobilin

Pigments found in red algae that aid in light absorption for photosynthesis.

Planktotrophic Development

A developmental strategy in which larvae feed on plankton during their pelagic stage.

Lecithotrophic Development

A form of development in which larvae derive nutrition from yolk reserves and have a shorter pelagic stage.

Deposit Feeder

An organism that obtains nutrients by consuming organic matter from sediments.

Suspension Feeder

An organism that filters suspended food particles from the water.

Herbivore

An animal that primarily feeds on plants or algae.

Carnivore

An animal that primarily eats other animals.

Urochordata

A phylum including marine invertebrates such as tunicates, characterized by a notochord during larval stages.

Annelida

A phylum of segmented worms including marine species such as earthworms.

Echinodermata

A phylum that includes starfish and sea urchins, characterized by radial symmetry and a water vascular system.

Mollusca

A diverse phylum that includes soft-bodied animals often with a hard shell, such as snails and octopuses.