Benthic organism are affected the most by

Options

A. Water-holding capacity of soil
B. Light reaching the forest floor
C. Sediment characteristics of aquatic ecosystem
D. Surface turbulence of water

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Benthic Organisms**:
- Benthic organisms, also known as benthos, are animals that live on the seafloor. They inhabit the bottom of aquatic ecosystems, including oceans, rivers, and lakes.

2. **Identifying Influencing Factors**:
- The question presents several factors that could affect benthic organisms:
- Water holding capacity of soil
- Light reaching the forest floor
- Sediment characteristics of aquatic ecosystems
- Surface turbulence of water

3. **Analyzing Each Factor**:
- **Water holding capacity of soil**: This primarily affects terrestrial organisms rather than benthic organisms.
- **Light reaching the forest floor**: This factor is more relevant to photosynthetic organisms and terrestrial ecosystems, not directly affecting benthic organisms.
- **Surface turbulence of water**: While this can impact aquatic life, it does not directly influence the benthic organisms that are primarily concerned with the substrate they live on.
- **Sediment characteristics of aquatic ecosystems**: This factor is crucial as benthic organisms often feed on the sediments, making it a significant influence on their survival and nutrition.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Among the options provided, the sediment characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem are the most significant factor affecting benthic organisms. This is because these organisms rely on sediments for their food, making it essential for their survival.

5. **Final Answer**:
- The correct answer is **C) Sediment characteristics of aquatic ecosystem**.

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