Benthic-pelagic coupling

Part of a series related to
Benthic life
Benthos              Benthic zone Benthopelagic (coupling)        Seabed
By size macrobenthos meiobenthos microbenthos
By type zoobenthos phytobenthos
By location endobenthos epibenthos hyperbenthos
By habitat     Shallow: tide pool • bay mud • bivalve reef                    mangrove forest • coral reef                    seagrass meadow         Deep: seamount • cold seep                    hydrothermal vent
Communities Benthic fish Benthopelagic fish Bottom feeder Deep sea Deep sea communities Demersal fish Intertidal ecology Hydrothermal vent microbial communities
Related Epibenthic sled Van Veen grab sampler Bioirrigation Bioturbation Demersal zone Marine sediment
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Benthic-pelagic coupling are processes that connect the benthic zone and the pelagic zone through the exchange of energy, mass, or nutrients. These processes play a prominent role in both freshwater and marine ecosystems and are influenced by a number of chemical, biological, and physical forces that are crucial to functions from nutrient cycling to energy transfer in food webs.^[1]