Final answer:
A more porous benthos substrate provides higher levels of nutrients and greater biodiversity, as it contains a wealth of organic matter from dead organisms that support a diverse array of marine life.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering porosity, the more porous benthos substrate provides higher levels of nutrients and a greater habitat diversity. This is because such substrates hold a wealth of organic matter from dead organisms that provide nutrients for living organisms to thrive. Marine organisms depend on these nutrients for energy and photosynthesis. Ocean upwelling also plays a critical role in redistributing these nutrients by bringing water from the bottom of the ocean to the surface, causing the nutrients once contained in dead organisms to become available again. Benthos with high porosity supports a diverse array of life, such as sponges, sea anemones, marine worms, sea stars, fishes, and bacteria, which all contribute to the overall biodiversity of marine ecosystems.