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Why is detritus an important food source for benthic organisms in the unvegetated subtidal communities?

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Why is detritus an important food source for benthic organisms in the unvegetated subtidal communities?

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Because there is little benthic primary production, most organisms depend on detritus as a food source. The meiofauna and larger benthic organisms feed on detritus. Most of the larger benthic organisms are deposit feeders, with worms being the most common. Other deposit feeders include echinoderms such as sea urchins, heart urchins, and sand dollars. Suspension feeders also depend on detritus suspended in the water column and include many different types of clams, worms, and amphipods. 68. What factors influence the distribution of suspension and deposit feeders in the unvegetated soft-bottom subtidal zone? Substrate and competitive exclusion influence the distribution of suspension and deposit feeders in the unvegetated soft-bottom subtidal zone. Deposit feeders are more common in muddy substrates, whereas suspension feeders are more common in sandier sediments. The types of organisms already present also influence the establishment of new types of organisms. For example, deposit feed

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