Why are benthic habitats important?
Benthic habitats are important for a variety of reasons. Estuarine and nearshore benthic habitats support a wide diversity of marine life by providing spawning, nursery, refuge, and foraging grounds for fisheries species. They function in nutrient cycling, and contribute to the removal of contaminants from the water column. Benthic organisms are also important members of the lower food web, consuming organic matter and phytoplankton and serving as food sources for higher level consumers. • Many benthic habitats (for example, coral reefs, eelgrass beds, and kelp forests) have three-dimensional structure that serve as shelter and provide storm protection by buffering wave action along coastlines. • Benthic habitats can play an important role in maintaining water quality. Many benthic organisms, including filter feeders like hard clams, bay scallops, and mussels, obtain their food by taking in sea water. As the water flows through their bodies, sediments, organic matter, and pollutants ar
