EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The profundal zone is a deep zone of an inland body of freestanding water, such as a lake or pond, located below the range of effective light penetration. This is typically below the thermocline, the vertical zone in the water through which temperature drops rapidly.

Detailed explanation-2: -The profundal zone is dimly lit and cold. Most of the animals that live here are scavengers (animals that eat dead organisms) and predators (animals that hunt other animals). For example, crustaceans, crabs, fishes like eels, snails, turtles, etc.

Detailed explanation-3: -Profundal is also defined as the deepest, vegetation free, and muddy zone of lacustrine benthal. Hence option A is the correct answer.

Detailed explanation-4: -The decomposers can be found in all biological zones of a lake, although they are the dominant forms in the lower hypolimnion where there is an abundance of dead organic matter.