epipsammon means the community of microscopic species (e.g., diatoms) that attach themselves to grains of sand. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 82 out of 100.
noun
- The community of microscopic species (e.g., diatoms) that attach themselves to grains of sand.“The benthic microflora of marine sands includes bacteria, blue-green bacteria (cyanobacteria), autotrophic flagellates, and diatoms. Those attached to sand grains are generally known as epipsammon (Fig. 4.1).”
- The community of biota or fauna that live on top of sand.“These groups are 1) the epipsammon, or surface-dwelling, generally motile macrofauna; 2) the endopsammon, or burrowing species that are too large to live in interstitial spaces; and 3) the mesopsammon, or interstitial fauna. The epipsammon is limited to a few groups such as fish or birds which are strong or speedy enough to exploit this turbulent environment.”