Makrozoobenthos

Makrozoobenthos refers to the macroscopic invertebrate animals that live on, in, or in close association with the bottom sediments of aquatic environments. The term "makro" signifies that these organisms are visible to the naked eye, distinguishing them from the microscopic meiobenthos. "Zoo" indicates that they are animals, and "benthos" describes their habitat at the bottom of a body of water.

These organisms inhabit a wide range of aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, streams, estuaries, and marine environments. Their physical presence and diversity are influenced by factors such as substrate type, water flow, oxygen levels, food availability, and pollution. Common examples of makrozoobenthos include insects larvae (like caddisflies, mayflies, and stoneflies), crustaceans (such as crayfish and amphipods), mollusks (snails and bivalves), annelid worms, and some echinoderms.

Makrozoobenthos play crucial roles in aquatic food webs, serving as both consumers of organic matter and detritus, and as a food source for fish and other larger aquatic animals. Due to their relatively sedentary nature and their direct interaction with the sediment and water column, they are often used as bioindicators of water quality. The presence, absence, or abundance of specific makrozoobenthic species can reveal information about the ecological health of a water body, as different species have varying tolerances to pollution and environmental stress. Monitoring changes in makrozoobenthos communities is a common practice in ecological assessments and environmental management.