Final answer:
Shallow benthic communities can be exemplified by oyster reefs which provide complex habitats that increase biodiversity. These ecosystems benefit from a rich supply of nutrients from decaying organic material and host a variety of marine organisms including infauna and epifauna species.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of shallow benthic communities would be an oyster reef. These reef ecosystems form on both soft and sandy substrates as well as on hard bottoms, significantly altering the habitat and increasing local biodiversity. Not only do oyster reefs provide a hard biogenic substrate that enhances habitat complexity, but they also create living spaces that offer shelter, foraging grounds, and nesting sites for a variety of species including infauna and epifauna.
In contrast to bare sediment habitats, oyster beds generally host a higher species richness and a greater total abundance or biomass. The increased habitat complexity due to the oysters leads to a proliferation of species like sponges, sea anemones, marine worms, sea stars, fishes, and bacteria, all thriving in a nutrient-rich environment provided by the organic material that descends from the upper layers of the ocean. Moreover, these structures, whether the oysters are living or post-mortem, continue to contribute to the increase of epifauna and infauna abundance.