Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Unit 7- Biotic communities

7.1.2.1. Macrobenthos
Macrobenthos are the larger, more visible, size greater than 0.5 mm in size. Examples are polychaete worms, bivalves, echinoderms, sea anemones, corals, sponges, sea squirts, turbellarians and larger crustaceans such as prawns,crabs, lobsters mysids, krill, isopods, cumaceans etc. Important macro benthoic population

• Echinoderms – Star fish, sea urchin, brittle star, sealillies, sea cucumbers
• Plants – Sargasssum, Ulva, Gracillaria, Hippnia, Codium
• Sponges – Sycon, Grantia
• Coelenterate – Sea anemones, Sertularia
• Annelids – Nereis, Eunice, Sabellaria
• Arthropods – Hermit crabs, Mysids, Gammarus, Isopods, Cumecians
• Molluscs – Mytilus, Littorina, Patella, Murex, Teredo, Cyprea, Crossostrea, Ostrea
• Prochordata - Ascidia, Botrythus
• Fishes - Demersal fishes ; soles, sharks, skates