About 421,000 results
Open links in new tab
  1. Plankton - Wikipedia

    Plankton are organisms that drift in water (or air) but are unable to actively propel themselves against currents (or wind). [1][2] Marine plankton include drifting organisms that inhabit the saltwater of …

  2. Plankton | Definition, Characteristics, Types, Diet, Size, & Facts ...

    Plankton, marine and freshwater organisms that, because they are nonmotile or too small or weak to swim against the current, exist in a drifting state. Plankton is the productive base of both marine and …

  3. What are plankton? - NOAA's National Ocean Service

    The word “plankton” comes from the Greek for “drifter” or “wanderer.” An organism is considered plankton if it is carried by tides and currents, and cannot swim well enough to move against these …

  4. What Is Plankton? Definition and Examples

    Mar 29, 2023 · Learn what plankton is. Get the definition and examples of different types of plankton and discover their ecological importance.

  5. Plankton - National Geographic Society

    Oct 19, 2023 · There are two main types of plankton: phytoplankton, which are plants, and zooplankton, which are animals. Zoo plankton and other small marine creatures eat phyto plankton and then …

  6. What Is Plankton and Why Are They Important? - Biology Insights

    Aug 24, 2025 · Plankton are a diverse collection of tiny organisms that drift within water bodies, unable to propel themselves against currents. The term originates from the Greek word for “wanderer” or …

  7. Plankton, explained - National Geographic

    What is plankton? Plankton are a collection of tiny organisms that live at and beneath the surface of lakes, rivers, ponds, and oceans across the planet.

  8. Why Are Plankton So Crucial For Life on Earth – And How Is Climate ...

    Aug 15, 2025 · Plankton, the microscopic organisms that form the basis of the marine food web, produce half of the Earth’s oxygen and absorb up to 40% of the global carbon emissions.

  9. 5 Types of Plankton in the Ocean to Know - American Oceans

    Plankton are fundamental to the marine ecosystem, serving as the base of the food chain and contributing to global oxygen production. Plankton species vary immensely in size and type, …

  10. Plankton - New World Encyclopedia

    Plankton is the collective name for certain organisms (mostly microscopic) that drift in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. Plankton have a tremendous importance in the web of life on earth.