bentho-, benth- +
(Greek: deep, depth; the fauna and flora of the bottom of the sea; sea bottom; depth [by extension, this element includes lake, river, and stream bottoms])
nectobenthos, nectobenthic, nectobenthid
Those organisms that swim actively just above the bottom of the sea, a lake, or another body of water.
nektobenthos, nektobenthic
1. Organisms typically associated with the benthos that swim actively in the water column at certain periods.
2. Swimming off the sea bed or bottom.
3. Those forms of marine life that exist just above the ocean bottom and occasionally rest on it.
phytobenthos
The aquatic flora of the region at or near the bottom of the sea.
pseudobenthos, pseudobenthonic
The assemblage of pelagic organisms that live attached to solid bodies; such as, driftwood, other organisms, etc.
rhizobenthos, rhizobenthic
Those organisms rooted in the substratum.
stenobenthos, stenobenthic
Living within a narrow range of depth on the sea bottom or lake bed.
zoobenthos, zoobenthic
1. Those fauna living in or on the sea bed or lake floor.
2. Aquatic bottom-dwelling organisms, including such animals as the sponges, lobsters, and polychaete worms.
Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving the "sea" and the "ocean" bodies of water:
abysso- (bottomless);
Atlantic;
batho-, bathy- (depth);
halio-, halo- (salt or "the sea");
mare, mari- (sea);
necto-, nekto- (swimming);
oceano-;
pelago- (sea, ocean);
plankto- (drifting);
thalasso- (sea, ocean).
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