Megafauna

The megafauna, or megabenthos, represents the largest body size class of organisms associated with the seafloor. It encompasses microbial mats, “giant” unicellular eukaryotes, the largest demersal fish, and a very broad range of metazoan invertebrate taxa. These organisms may live within the seafloor, on its surface, or the water column immediately above it. The standing stocks and biological diversity of the megafauna are primarily controlled by a combination of food availability and habitat temperature. The group typically characterizes vulnerable marine ecosystems, that are threatened by demersal fishing and other human activities, a may be a key target in environmental management and conservation programs.