Encyclopedia > Plankton

  Article Content

Plankton

Plankton is the name given to all the microorganisms that drift and hover in the ocean and freshwater. The name comes from the Greek language <math>\pi\lambda\alpha\gamma\kappa\tau o\nu</math> - term for "wanderer" or "drifter". If the organism has a method of propulsion, it is instead called nekton.

Plankton are divided into two classes:

Plankton concentration and distribution is very sensitive to chemical and physical changes in the sea water.

See also larger images (http://www.ecoscope.com/ocean/index.htm); (photomontage by Uwe Kils)

Hyperiid amphipod, Hyperia macrocephala (http://www.ecoscope.com/hyperia/index.htm) (Uwe Kils)

Copepod (Calanoida) (Uwe Kils)


See also: algal bloom, domoic acid

External Links



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Grateful Dead

... initially played in concert. The band was famous for their extended jams, which showcased both individual improvisation as well as a singluarly unique "group-mind" ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 40.5 ms