periphyton

[ puh-rif-i-ton ]

nounEcology.
  1. the community of tiny organisms, as protozoans, hydras, insect larvae, and snails, that lives on the surfaces of rooted aquatic plants.

Origin of periphyton

1
1940–45; probably peri- + Greek phŷton plant, -phyte, on the model of plankton

Other words from periphyton

  • per·i·phyt·ic [per-uh-fit-ik], /ˌpɛr əˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby periphyton

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British Dictionary definitions for periphyton

periphyton

/ (pəˈrɪfɪˌtɒn) /


noun
  1. aquatic organisms, such as certain algae, that live attached to rocks or other surfaces

Origin of periphyton

1
C20: from Greek, from peri- + phutos, from phuein to grow

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