phytoplankton

[fahy-tuh-plangk-tuhn]

noun

1. the aggregate of plants and plantlike organisms in plankton.

phytoplankton

/ ˌfaɪtəˈplæŋktən, ˌfaɪtəplæŋkˈtɒnɪk /

noun

1. the photosynthesizing organisms in plankton, mainly unicellular algae and cyanobacteria Compare zooplankton

phytoplankton

1. Plankton consisting of free-floating algae, protists, and cyanobacteria. Phytoplankton form the beginning of the food chain for aquatic animals and fix large amounts of carbon, which would otherwise be released as carbon dioxide.

Other Word Forms

• phytoplanktonic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phytoplankton¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; phyto- + plankton

Example Sentences

"As ice decreases in the future, we expect to see increased consumption of nutrients by phytoplankton in the Arctic, which has consequences for the food web," Pavia said.

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All appear free from the layer of phytoplankton detritus covering the nearby seabed -- a sharp contrast easily seen in the central portion of the image.

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The creatures eat phytoplankton on the ocean surface which grow by transforming carbon dioxide into living matter through photosynthesis.

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The DMS that cycles around our world is produced, for the most part, by marine organisms, most notably the microscopic plants known as phytoplankton that live in the nutrient-rich upper layer of the ocean.

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The amount of algae that produce toxins, also known as phytoplankton, is normally small and doesn’t pose a threat.

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