infauna

/ɪnˈfɔːnə/

Definitions

1. noun

the organisms that live in or on the substrate or sediment of a body of water, such as a lake or ocean, excluding the water column.

“The team of scientists studied the infauna of the coral reef to better understand the ecosystem’s biodiversity.”

Synonyms

  • benthos
  • sublittoral organisms

Antonyms

  • epifauna