Plankton that consists of minute plants and other photosynthetic organisms, including cyanobacteria, diatoms, and dinoflagellates.
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Plankton consisting of plants and algae.
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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.
From phyto- + plankton. From Ancient Greek φυτόν (phuton, “plant”) + πλαγκτόν (plankton), neuter of πλαγκτός (planktos, “wandering”). However, they are no longer classified as plants, so the terminology is showing a historical meaning.
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Phytoplankton Sentence Examples
As already described, ocean acidity may increase as phytoplankton (and increased marine organisms) decompose.
Marine phytoplankton - Rich in natural minerals and vitamins, it supports a healthy heart.
Other series of shorter length, carried out from the 1920s to the 1980s, measured dissolved nutrients, phytoplankton production and infaunal benthos.
In spring when the phytoplankton biomass increases and blooms the adult Cal fin begin to breed.
In the presence of sunlight, tiny plant species called phytoplankton use the nutrients to produce a greenish plant substance called chlorophyll.