Final answer:
Organisms that live on or attached to a surface or sediment are known as benthic organisms. These include species like sponges and clams. The correct answer is 1) Benthic organisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organisms that live on or attached to a surface or sediment are known as benthic organisms. These organisms, such as sponges, clams, and certain types of fish like the anglerfish, can be found crawling in the sediments at the bottom of a body of water, often acting as decomposers.
Unlike planktonic organisms, which include phytoplankton and zooplankton that float or swim in the water column and cannot move on their own, or nektonic organisms like fish and shrimp that can swim through the water, benthic organisms are specifically associated with the ocean floor or the substrate of aquatic environments.
Benthic organisms play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems by contributing to the decomposition process and as part of the food web structure. When addressing the question, the correct answer is: 1) Benthic organisms.