Group of marine and fresh water organisms defined by their small size
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
Marine life portal
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Meiobenthos, also called meiofauna, are small benthic invertebrates that live in marine or freshwater environments, or both. The term meiofauna loosely defines a group of organisms by their size—larger than microfauna but smaller than macrofauna—rather than by their taxonomy. This fauna includes both animals that turn into macrofauna later in life, and those small enough to belong to the meiobenthos their entire life. In marine environments there can be thousands of individuals in 10 cubic centimeters of sediment, and counts animals like nematodes, copepods, rotifers, tardigrades and ostracods, but protists like ciliates and foraminifers within the size range of the meiobethos are also often included. In practice, the term usually includes organisms that can pass through a 1 mm mesh but are retained by a 45 μm mesh, though exact dimensions may vary.[1] Whether an organism will pass through a 1 mm mesh also depends upon whether it is alive or dead at the time of sorting.
The term meiobenthos was first coined in 1942 by Molly Mare, but organisms that fit into the modern meiofauna category have been studied since the 18th century.
^Sedimentary Coastal Zones from High to Low Latitudes: Similarities and Differences
Meiobenthos, also called meiofauna, are small benthic invertebrates that live in marine or freshwater environments, or both. The term meiofauna loosely...
Derocheilocarididae is a family of marine crustaceans that form part of the meiobenthos. It is the only family in the monotypic order Mystacocaridida, and the...
invertebrates that are widespread in mud or sand at all depths as part of the meiobenthos. They are commonly called mud dragons. Modern species are 1 mm (0.039 in)...
v t e Groups of organisms in aquatic ecosystems Benthos Macrobenthos Meiobenthos Herpon Nekton Neuston Pechton / Pecton / Pekton Plankton Pleuston Plocon...
Ostracoda, a class of crustaceans, were abundant as representatives of the meiobenthos; genera included Amphissites, Bairdia, Beyrichiopsis, Cavellina, Coryellina...
Free-living marine nematodes are important and abundant members of the meiobenthos. They play an important role in the decomposition process, aid in recycling...
v t e Groups of organisms in aquatic ecosystems Benthos Macrobenthos Meiobenthos Herpon Nekton Neuston Pechton / Pecton / Pekton Plankton Pleuston Plocon...
Macrostomidae are members of a large range of aquatic faunas, ranging from the meiobenthos, epibenthos, to plankton. Moreover, they occur in marine, brackish, and...
1983]. "Loricifera, a new phylum with Aschelminthes characters from the meiobenthos". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 21 (3):...
, Miljutina, M., Mokievsky, V., Thistle, D., Vopel, K. (2003). "The meiobenthos of the Molloy Deep (5600 m), Fram Strait, Arctic Ocean". Vie et Milieu...
v t e Groups of organisms in aquatic ecosystems Benthos Macrobenthos Meiobenthos Herpon Nekton Neuston Pechton / Pecton / Pekton Plankton Pleuston Plocon...
v t e Groups of organisms in aquatic ecosystems Benthos Macrobenthos Meiobenthos Herpon Nekton Neuston Pechton / Pecton / Pekton Plankton Pleuston Plocon...
v t e Groups of organisms in aquatic ecosystems Benthos Macrobenthos Meiobenthos Herpon Nekton Neuston Pechton / Pecton / Pekton Plankton Pleuston Plocon...
Rhabditophora, Platyhelminthes), and members of the marine, brackish, freshwater meiobenthos and plankton. There are currently about 40 named species in this family...
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