Typical benthic invertebrates include sea anemones, sponges, corals, sea stars, sea urchins, worms, bivalves, crabs, and many more. Recent research indicates that the diversity of species living in the deep-sea may rival the species richness found in tropical coral reefs!

Furthermore, what is the temperature of the benthic zone? Temperature in the benthic zone ranges from warmer temperatures at shallow depths because of close proximity to the water surface, but may drop to 2 °C to 3 °C at the most extreme depths of the abyssal zone. At such cold temperatures, abundance of life is quite low and organisms move at a very slow pace.

Also to know is, what happens in the benthic zone?

The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water. It starts at the shoreline and continues down until it reaches the floor, encompassing the sediment surface and sub- surface layers. Although this zone may appear barren, it plays a vital role in the health of aquatic ecosystems.

What does the benthic zone look like?

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.