Plankton
Plankton
Plankton (/ˈplæŋktən/; from Ancient Greek πλαγκτός, planktos, meaning "wanderer" or "drifter") is the diverse collection of organisms found in water (or air) that are unable to propel themselves against a current. The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankters.
Etymology
The term "plankton" is derived from the Ancient Greek term πλαγκτός, planktos, which translates to "wanderer" or "drifter". This term accurately describes the nature of plankton, as these organisms are primarily carried by tides and currents.
Types of Plankton
Plankton are primarily divided into broad functional (or trophic level) groups:
- Phytoplankton (from Greek phyton, or plant), are autotrophic prokaryotic or eukaryotic algae that live near the water surface where there is sufficient light to support photosynthesis. Among the more important groups are the diatoms, cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and coccolithophores.
- Zooplankton (from Greek zoon, or animal), small protozoans or metazoans (e.g. crustaceans and other animals) that feed on other plankton. Some of the eggs and larvae of larger animals, such as fish, crustaceans, and annelids, are included here.
- Bacterioplankton, bacteria and archaea, which play an important role in remineralising organic material down the water column (note that prokaryotic phytoplankton are also bacterioplankton).
Related Terms
- Nekton: Unlike plankton, nekton are aquatic animals that can swim and move independently of water currents.
- Benthos: These are organisms which live on, in, or near the seabed, also known as the benthic zone.
- Meroplankton: These are a wide variety of aquatic organisms which have both planktonic and benthic stages in their life cycles.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Plankton
- Wikipedia's article - Plankton
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