plankton

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plank·ton

(plangk'tŏn),

A general term for many floating marine forms, mostly of microscopic or minute size, which are moved passively by winds, waves, tides, or currents; it includes diatoms, algae, copepods, and many protozoans, crustacea, mollusks, and worms.

[G. planktos, wandering]

plankton

[plangk′tən]

Etymology: Gk, planktos, wandering

nearly microscopic floating or weakly swimming organisms (both photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic) found in lakes and oceans that provide the initial level in the food chain for aquatic animals.

plank·ton

(plangk'tŏn)

A general term for many floating marine forms, mostly of microscopic or minute size, which are moved passively by winds, waves, tides, or currents.

[G. planktos, wandering]

plankton

the organisms inhabiting the surface layer of a sea or lake, drifting with the current. Many planktonic organisms are capable of locomotion but are not sufficiently strong swimmers to move against the currents. Members of the plankton vary in size from unicellular organisms to large jellyfish, 1m or more in diameter. Compare NEKTON.

plankton

a collective name for small animal and plant (phytoplankton) organisms that drift passively in all natural bodies of water. The starting point of the aquatic food chain. Called also microalgae.

References in periodicals archive ?

Plankton production peaked nine days after the experiment started.

Climate controls

According to The Telegraph, the bioluminescence in the waters was caused by Noctiluca scintillans (popularly known as sea sparkle), which are single-celled planktons that emit a blue light.

LOOK: Blue algae makes Tasmania coastline glow in the dark

This study therefore presents the initial results obtained by continuous plankton sampling with the use of the VOR, towed by vessels of the industrial fishing fleet in the southeastern and southern regions of Brazil.

The first continuous plankton sampling by VOR (Towed Oceanographic Vehicle) in southeastern and southern Brazil waters

Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus "are organisms that you've never heard of, but you really should have," says Adam Martiny of the University of California, Irvine, who studies these plankton.

Plankton held hostage by viral pirates: infections inhibit marine microbes' capture of carbon dioxide

Calcispheres, planktons, inoceramids and filaments are recognised as dominant skeletal grains embedded in micritic matrix.

Microfacies and depositional environments of upper cretaceous Kawagarh Formation from Chinali and Thoba sections Northeastern Hazara Basin, lesser Himalayas, Pakistan

Individually small, plankton are collectively mighty.

Illuminating an unexplored undersea universe: video plankton recorder unveils multitudes of unseen life

The study specifically focuses on highly elusive forms of this fish group that ate plankton.

Bony Rhinconichthys goes global

The OSU scientists might enlist your eyeballs for a citizen science project aimed at identifying the plankton found in the world's oceans.

Oregon State scientists show you how they see in the dark

Filled with humorous, quirky, colorful underwater portraits of all characters, "The Little Red Octopus" tells the story of how the Little Red Octopus requested help to make a plankton cake from her friends, the lazy blue Turtle, the fluttery pink Puffer Fish, and the two sneaky Green Eels.

The Little Red Octopus

WASHINGTON (CyHAN)- Scientists confirm that summertime plankton blooms in the Southern Ocean add significantly to generating brighter clouds, which in turn impacts global warming.

Scientists find tiny plankton play big role in global warming

WASHINGTON, Sha'ban 3, 1436, May 21, 2015, SPA -- Scientists on Thursday unveiled the most comprehensive analysis ever undertaken of the world's ocean plankton, the tiny organisms that serve as food for marine creatures such as the blue whale, but also provide half the oxygen we breathe, Reuters reported.

Scientists want you to know plankton is not just whale food

Krabs (Clancy Brown) are busy fending off the latest incursion from failed invertebrate restaurateur Plankton (Mr.