Meiofauna

Meiofauna are small benthic animals that pass through a 0.5-millimeter mesh but are retained by finer screens. They inhabit sediments and other aquatic habitats.

Macrofauna: Benthic animals large enough to be retained by a 0.5-millimeter mesh. This larger size class is separated from meiofauna by the common sieve threshold.
Sediment grain size: A measure of the dimensions of particles that make up a sediment. Grain size shapes pore spaces that constrain meiofaunal movement and habitat.
Marine sediment ecology: The study of organisms and ecological processes in marine sediments. Meiofauna are central components of sediment communities and their ecological processes.
Meiofauna sampling: Methods for collecting and processing small benthic animals from sediments and other habitats. Sampling choices affect which meiofaunal groups and life stages are recorded.
Microfauna: Very small organisms, often protists and tiny animals, that pass through fine meiofaunal sieves. This smaller size class lies below meiofauna in sieve-based classifications.
Interstitial locomotion: Movement through the narrow pore spaces between sediment particles. Meiofauna navigate sediment pores using body shapes and movements suited to confined spaces.
Environmental biomonitoring: The use of organisms or biological responses to assess environmental conditions over time. Meiofaunal communities can register ecological change and pollution in sediments.
Meiofauna taxonomy: The classification and identification of small benthic animals. Small body size and limited taxonomic expertise can make species identification difficult.
Benthic zone: The ecological region at the bottom of a body of water, including its sediment surface and subsurface. Meiofauna are defined by their association with bottom habitats.
Bacterial grazing: The consumption of bacteria by animals or other organisms. Many meiofauna feed on sediment bacteria, transferring microbial production to larger consumers.

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