Plankton - Wikipedia Plankton are organisms that drift in water (or air) but are unable to actively propel themselves against currents (or wind) [1][2] Marine plankton include drifting organisms that inhabit the saltwater of oceans and the brackish waters of estuaries
Plankton | Definition, Characteristics, Types, Diet, Size, Facts . . . Plankton, marine and freshwater organisms that, because they are nonmotile or too small or weak to swim against the current, exist in a drifting state Plankton is the productive base of both marine and freshwater ecosystems, providing food for larger animals and indirectly for humans
What are plankton? - NOAAs National Ocean Service The word “plankton” comes from the Greek for “drifter” or “wanderer ” An organism is considered plankton if it is carried by tides and currents, and cannot swim well enough to move against these forces
Plankton - National Geographic Society There are two main types of plankton: phytoplankton, which are plants, and zooplankton, which are animals Zoo plankton and other small marine creatures eat phyto plankton and then become food for fish, crustaceans, and other larger species
What Is Plankton? Definition and Examples Learn what plankton is Get the definition and examples of different types of plankton and discover their ecological importance
5 Types of Plankton in the Ocean to Know - American Oceans Plankton are fundamental to the marine ecosystem, serving as the base of the food chain and contributing to global oxygen production Plankton species vary immensely in size and type, including both phytoplankton and zooplankton, which support diverse marine life
Plankton | Ask A Biologist When you go swimming in a lake or in the ocean, each stroke pushes you past billions upon billions of microscopic creatures called plankton It was a German scientist named Viktor Hensen who gave plankton this name
Plankton, explained - National Geographic What is plankton? Plankton are a collection of tiny organisms that live at and beneath the surface of lakes, rivers, ponds, and oceans across the planet
What is plankton and why is it so important? - BBC Plankton is the name given to a collection of tiny sea life that lives in the ocean These minute organisms may be small, but they have a big role to play in maintaining the health of our oceans