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Sarcandra Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

benthos

Happy new year, everyone!

My question: Is benthos plural or singular? "The benthos were measured..." or "was measured"?

Does it depend on the context?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

My dictionary has two definitions: 1) the biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean, and the littoral and supralittoral zones of the shore. 2) the assemblage of organisms inhabiting the seafloor. Benthic epifauna live upon the seafloor or upon bottom objects; the so-called infauna live within the sediments of the seafloor.

— AlpheccaStars

  • My dictionary has two definitions: 1) the biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean, and the littoral and supralittoral zones of the shore.
  • 2) the assemblage of organisms inhabiting the seafloor.
  • Benthic epifauna live upon the seafloor or upon bottom objects; the so-called infauna live within the sediments of the seafloor.
  • You can measure the water depth (bathymetry), and sample the benthos (the organisms).
  • I don't know what you mean when you say "measure the benthos".
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4 Answers
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My dictionary has two definitions:

1) the biogeographic region that includes the bottom of a lake, sea, or ocean, and the littoral and supralittoral zones of the shore.
2) the assemblage of organisms inhabiting the seafloor. Benthic epifauna live upon the seafloor or upon bottom objects; the so-called infauna live within the sediments of the seafloor.

You can measure the wate
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Thanks, Alphecca.

I'm referring to the organisms. Let's use "sample," then. From definition 2, I suppose I should say "The benthos in the area was sampled." Is the singular right?

Thanks.
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The Wiki article uses the singular.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benthosis the community of organisms which live on, in, or near the seabed.

Benthos is not a word that people use everyday.
If you are writing a scientific article, use the pattern and vocabulary that other journal articles
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