Plankton are aquatic organisms whose large-scale movement is strongly influenced by water currents. The group is defined by ecological mode rather than a single evolutionary origin: phytoplankton include photosynthetic forms, whereas zooplankton include drifting consumers.
Many plankton can swim locally or change depth, so drifting does not mean complete immobility. Vertical movement can change access to light, nutrients and predators, linking behaviour to transport by currents and to an aquatic food web.
Zooplankton are drifting aquatic consumers, including small animals. In the illustrative food web, the chosen zooplankton feed on algae and serve as prey for small fish; this assumed diet is not a claim about every kind of zooplankton.
Phytoplankton are drifting aquatic organisms that carry out photosynthesis, including many algae. They can supply food to zooplankton in an ecosystem.
The standing stock of living phytoplankton, often expressed as carbon mass per water volume. Chlorophyll a is an accessible proxy, but its ratio to carbon is variable.
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Plankton refers to a diverse group of tiny organisms that drift in ocean currents and other bodies of water. They are a vital part of the aquatic ecosystem and play a crucial role in the food web. Plankton is typically categorized into two main groups: 1. **Phytoplankton**: These are microscopic plant-like organisms, primarily algae, that carry out photosynthesis. They produce oxygen and serve as the primary producers in many aquatic ecosystems, forming the base of the food chain.