Phytobenthos vs. Benthos — What's the Difference?

Phytobenthos () (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. This photosynthetic community includes single-celled or filamentous cyanobacteria, microalgae, and macrophytes.

Benthos (from Ancient Greek βένθος (bénthos) 'the depths (of the sea)'), also known as benthon, is the community of organisms that live on, in, or near the bottom of a sea, river, lake, or stream, also known as the benthic zone. This community lives in or near marine or freshwater sedimentary environments, from tidal pools along the foreshore, out to the continental shelf, and then down to the abyssal depths.

(biology) benthic organisms that are plants or algae

The collection of organisms living on or in the bottom of a body of water.

The bottom of a body of water.

The flora and fauna at the bottom of a body of water.

The bottom of the sea, esp. of the deep oceans;

A region including the bottom of the sea and the littoral zones

Organisms (plants and animals) that live at or near the bottom of a sea