What factor contributes to benthos being easily collected?

The abundance of benthic organisms in their habitats is a key factor that contributes to their easy collection. Since benthos, which include various species of organisms living on or near the bottom of water bodies, tend to thrive in a wide range of environments, their high population density makes them accessible when sampling. Collecting benthic organisms often involves using tools like dredges or nets, designed to efficiently gather specimens from the substrate where they reside.

The other factors, while they may influence the characteristics of benthic organisms, do not directly relate to their ease of collection. For instance, having simple life cycles can affect population dynamics or reproductive strategies but does not necessarily impact the methodology for their collection. Living only in shallow waters limits the range of habitats that can be sampled, and while size may play a role in visibility or detection, it does not inherently facilitate the collection process in the way that their overall abundance does. Therefore, the abundance of benthic organisms in their habitats stands out as the most relevant factor for their collection.