plankton
noun
the aggregate of passively floating, drifting, or somewhat motile organisms occurring in a body of water, primarily comprising microscopic algae and protozoa.
planktonic
-
a word derived from
plankton.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Because algae are the primary food source for small animals such as planktonic crustaceans, which in turn are eaten by small fish, more algae can end up affecting the entire food chain," she adds.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2025
“From these preliminary observations there appears to be some direct correlation of the planktonic animals with the scattering layer,” Johnson wrote.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 20, 2022
Low diversity of planktonic bacteria in the tropical ocean.
From Nature ● Oct. 31, 2017
The researchers pointed to a form of planktonic alga known as Emiliania huxleyi, which in laboratory experiments was able to adapt to some extent to counter the negative effects acidification had upon it.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 23, 2017
The waters in which these corals live are nutritionally poor and, without this mutualism, it would not be possible for large corals to grow because there are few planktonic organisms for them to feed on.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013
