zooplankton

[ zoh-uh-plangk-tuhn ]

noun

1. the aggregate of animal or animallike organisms in plankton, as protozoans.

zooplankton

/ ˌzəʊəˈplæŋktən /

noun

1. the animal constituent of plankton, which consists mainly of small crustaceans and fish larvae Compare phytoplankton

zooplankton

/ zō′ə-plăngk′tən /

1. Plankton that consists of tiny animals, such as rotifers, copepods, and krill, and of microorganisms once classified as animals, such as dinoflagellates and other protozoans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zooplankton¹

First recorded in 1900–05; zoo- + plankton

Example Sentences

The researchers do not yet know how the phytoplankton and zooplankton have been affected by this.

From Science Daily

North Pacific right whales are baleen whales, which feed by straining huge volumes of ocean water through their comb-like baleen plates that trap copepods and other zooplankton.

From Seattle Times

When urchin numbers rise, the spiky marine invertebrates can devour kelp forests that are a critical habitat for zooplankton, the tiny aquatic organisms that are the primary prey of many marine animals.

From Science Daily

Scientists have found DDT in zooplankton and deep-sea fish off the coast of L.A., indicating the toxic chemical might be infiltrating the base of the food web.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to zooplankton, which are a window into the base of the food chain, one particular type of fish, myctophids, proved to be key.

From Los Angeles Times