Benthos is the community of organisms which live on, in, or near the sea bed, also known as the benthic zone. As no light is available at this zone of sea, the energy source for deep benthic ecosystems is often organic matter from higher up in the water column which drifts down to the depths. This dead and decaying matter sustains the benthic organisms, and therefore, most organisms in benthic zone i.e., in deep oceanic waters, are scavengers or detritivores.