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 …
What are plankton? - NOAA's 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 …
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 …
What Is Plankton? Definition and Examples
Mar 29, 2023 · Learn what plankton is. Get the definition and examples of different types of plankton and discover their ecological importance.
Plankton - National Geographic Society
Oct 19, 2023 · 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, 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.
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, …
Plankton | Ask A Biologist
Apr 18, 2011 · 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 …
Understanding the value of plankton to humanity
Jul 16, 2025 · Plankton are the base of the food web. They consume and produce oxygen, carbon dioxide, and many other compounds. They are part of the mechanisms by which carbon and …
Plankton - New World Encyclopedia
Plankton is the collective name for certain organisms (mostly microscopic) that drift in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. Plankton have a tremendous importance in the web of …