some bodies of freshwater have areas so deep that there is too little light for photosynthesis. Bacteria live in the deep areas of the fresh water to decompose dead plants and animal that drift down from the land and water above. Fish adapted to cooler, darker water also live there. Eventually, dead and decaying organisms reach the benthic zone, the bottom of a pond or lake, which is inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae, and clams.