nekton

American  

[nek-ton, -tuhn] / ˈnɛk tɒn, -tən /

noun

1. the aggregate of actively swimming aquatic organisms in a body of water, able to move independently of water currents.

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nekton British  

/ ˈnɛktɒn /

noun

1. the population of free-swimming animals that inhabits the middle depths of a sea or lake Compare plankton

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nekton Scientific  

/ nĕk′tən,-tŏn′ /

1. The collection of marine and freshwater organisms that can swim freely and are generally independent of currents, ranging in size from microscopic organisms to whales.

2. Compare benthos plankton

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Other Word Forms

• nektonic adjective

Etymology

Origin of nekton

1890–95; < German, noun use of neuter of nēktós swimming (verbid of nḗchein to swim; nectopod )

Example Sentences

Longhurst, A. R. & Glen Harrison, W. Vertical nitrogen flux from the oceanic photic zone by diel migrant zooplankton and nekton.

From Nature • Apr. 17, 2018

He proceeded to draw divisions between the bottom organisms without power of motion, benthon, the nekton motile life in mid-water, and the plankton or floating life.

From Scott's Last Expedition Volume I by Scott, Robert Falcon