Bacterioplankton refers to the community of bacteria that exist in the water column of aquatic ecosystems, including oceans, lakes, and rivers. These microorganisms are an essential component of the planktonic ecosystem and play critical roles in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and the overall functioning of aquatic food webs. Bacterioplankton are typically small, ranging from a few micrometers to tens of micrometers in size, and they can be free-living or form aggregates.
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