Phytobenthos

Part of a series related to
Benthic life
Benthos              Benthic zone Benthopelagic (coupling)        Seabed
By size macrobenthos meiobenthos microbenthos
By type zoobenthos phytobenthos
By location endobenthos epibenthos hyperbenthos
By habitat     Shallow: tide pool • bay mud • bivalve reef                    mangrove forest • coral reef                    seagrass meadow         Deep: seamount • cold seep                    hydrothermal vent
Communities Benthic fish Benthopelagic fish Bottom feeder Deep sea Deep sea communities Demersal fish Intertidal ecology Hydrothermal vent microbial communities
Related Epibenthic sled Van Veen grab sampler Bioirrigation Bioturbation Demersal zone Marine sediment
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Phytobenthos (/.faɪtoʊˈbɛnθɒs/) (from Greek φυτόν (phyton, meaning "plants") and βένθος (benthos, meaning "depths") are autotrophic organisms found attached to bottom surfaces aquatic environments, such as rocks, sediments, or even other organisms.^[1][2][3] This photosynthetic community includes single-celled or filamentous cyanobacteria, microalgae, and macrophytes.^[4][5] Phytobenthos are highly diverse, and can be found in freshwater and marine environments, as well as transitional water systems.^[6][7] However, their distribution and availability still depend on the factors and stressors that exist in the environment.^[8] Because phytobenthos are autotrophs, they need to be able to subsist where it is still possible to perform photosynthesis.^[1] Similar to phytoplankton, phytobenthos contribute to the aquatic food web for grazers and heterotrophic bacteria, and researchers have also been studying their health as an indicator for water quality and environmental integrity of aquatic ecosystems.^{[5][9][10][11][12][13]}