Definition of "benthic"

The benthic environment, except for intertidal areas, has been scarcely explored […]

1878, Proceedings of the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution Press, page 3

As the classical approach to benthic community studies originated primarily with Danish biologists, a section is devoted to comparisons of Danish bottom communities with those obtained in Hadley Harbor.

1974, R. H. Parker, The Study of Benthic Communities, New York: American Elsevier Publishing Company, page 191

Benthic foraminifera have been used for stratigraphic purposes almost since they began to be studied systematically.

1994, Hans M. Bolli, Jean-Pierre Beckmann, John B. Saunders, Benthic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the South Caribbean Region, Cambridge University Press, page 1