Dictionary Deep Sea Environments

Benthic

This word describes animals and plants that live on or very close to the bottom of the ocean, lakes, or rivers. Think of crabs and sea stars — they are benthic creatures that make their home where the water meets the ground!

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Chemosynthesis

This is how some tiny living things, like special bacteria, make their own food. Instead of using sunlight like plants do, they get energy from chemicals around them, like the methane found in certain places at the ocean floor.

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