Why Are Benthic Important?

Benthos are also critical for the breakdown of organic matter. Species use organic matter as their food source making them a key player in nutrient cycling process. ... By contributing to nutrient cycling and pollutant and sediment removal, benthos are directly responsible for maintaining healthy water quality.

Why are benthic habitats important?

In most cases, benthic habitats contain communities with no or slow mobility, which are exposed when a bottom pressure occurs because they cannot flee or escape. As a result, the condition of benthic habitat communities provides an important signal of the state of the marine environment.

Why are benthic communities important to society?

These organisms inhabit the bottom substrates of estuaries and play a vital role in maintaining sediment and water quality. ... Communities of benthic organisms are important indicators of environmental stress because they are particularly sensitive to pollutant exposure (Holland et al., 1987).