Epineuston refers to the community of microorganisms and small creatures that live on the surface of water bodies and interact with air. Some synonyms that are commonly used for epineuston include surface microbes, aquatic organisms, and water's top layer fauna. Other synonyms include water-air interface biodiversity and neuston, which is a broader term that encompasses both the epineuston and the hyponeuston, which are the organisms that inhabit the water's underside. Some scientists also refer to the epineuston as the surface pelagic layer since it consists of organisms that live in the uppermost part of the water column.