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 …

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 …

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 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, …

Mar 29, 2023 · Learn what plankton is. Get the definition and examples of different types of plankton and discover their ecological importance.

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 …

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.

1 day ago · Beneath the surface of the ocean, vast layers of planktonic life are constantly on the move—rising, sinking, spreading, and regrouping in response to light, predators, currents, and …

Aug 24, 2025 · Plankton are a diverse collection of tiny organisms that drift within water bodies, unable to propel themselves against currents. The term originates from the Greek word for …

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 …