Results for “plankton”

plankton

Any organism, or more typically, collection of organisms drifting freely in a body of water. Used in reference to both microscopic, e.g. algae, fish larvae, and larger, e.g. jellyfish, organisms.

Used in 15 profiles

planktonic

Of or relating to plankton.

Used in 6 profiles

planktonic bloom

A visble population explosion in plankton, typically involving phytoplankton, and normally resulting from an increase or excess of available nutrients.

zooplankton

Plankton or planktonic constituent composed of small animals such as crustaceans and larval fishes.

Used in 318 profiles

phytoplankton

The photosynthesizing constituent of a planktonic community, consisting of algae, cyanobacteria and other microorganisms.

Used in 28 profiles

copepod

Any member of the subclass Copepoda, a group of small marine and freshwater crustaceans of which the planktonic species are important to global ecology, forming the main constituent of oceanic zooplankton. Some species are parasites of fishes.

Used in 6 profiles

Daphnia

Any representative of the genus Daphnia; small, planktonic crustaceans commonly referred to as 'water fleas' and often used as food for ornamental fishes. They're members of the order Cladocera and reproduce by parthenogenesis.

Used in 749 profiles

formanifera

Phylum of amoeboid microorganisms and a common constituent of marine plankton.

nauplius

First larval stage in certain crustaceans, comprising an unsegmented body with three pairs of appendages. Important constituent of plankton and the diet of some fishes.

pelagic phase

Period of time during the life cycle spent floating freely in the water column, usually as a larval constituent of plankton. Relatively common in marine fishes but also typical of amphidromous and diadromous species.

planktivore

An organism that feeds on plankton.

planktivorous

Feeding on plankton.

Used in 1 profile

zoea

Early, planktonic larval form common in decapod crustaceans, e.g., crabs, characterised by possession of well-developed abdominal appendages and one or more spines on the carapace.

bloom

A population explosion of phytoplankton such as algae.

Used in 16 profiles

diatom

Large group of algae often referred to as 'brown algae' in relation to aquaria. Most are unicellular but there also exist colonial types. Very common component of phytoplankton.

eutrophication

Hypertrophication; process by which addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, to a body of water increases the concentration of dissolved nutrients, this in turn stimulating the growth of aquatic plant life, especially phytoplankton, and typically resulting in depletion of dissolved oxygen. Negative effects include reductions in populations of fishes and other organisms incapable of withstanding this hypoxia.

Used in 8 profiles

green water

Term used to describe water with a green-coloured, soupy appearance caused by an excess of phytoplankton in suspension, often as a result of eutrophication. Also known as an algal bloom.

Used in 7 profiles