Question

How do the littoral zone and the benthic zone differ?

Answer 1

Hint: In a typical pond or a lake, it has got three distinct zones of biological communities linked to its physical structure. These different zones divide the water column from top to bottom and from side to side.

Complete answer:
The littoral zone refers to a near shore area where sunlight penetrates all the way to the sediment and allows for growth of the aquatic animals. Those animals in the littoral zone live and thrive on the surface of leaves, the stems or burrow among the plant roots. Littoral zone provides habitat for insects such as dragonflies, stoneflies and midgets. The literal zone consists of an area starting from the dry land sloping to the open water and it can be very narrow or very wide.

The Benthic zone on the other hand indicates an ecological region where flora and fauna lives at the bottom of water bodies such as an ocean, lake or a stream and those species that live by burrowing in it. The organisms living in the benthic zone are given the name benthos and this includes microorganisms like bacteria and fungi as well as larger invertebrates such as crustaceans and polychaetes. Decomposition takes place in benthic zone and this takes place aerobically or anaerobically. The benthic zone also increases as the lake or pond ages.

Note:The benthic zone is also known as the digestive system for a pond or a lake. It is where bacteria decompose organic materials from the dead such as algae, aquatic plants, fish and animal waste. The littoral zone on the other hand has an abundance of aquatic plants and algae growth.