Some bodies of fresh water have areas so deep that
there is too little light for photosynthesis.
• Bacteria live in the deep areas of freshwater. Fish
adapted to cooler, darker water also live there.
• Eventually, dead and decaying organisms reach the
benthic zone.
• The benthic zone is the region near the bottom of a
pond, lake or ocean which is inhabited by decomposers,
insect larvae, and clams.