Definition & Bedeutung von "zooplankton"

Zooplankton

SUBSTANTIV

Zooplankton, Tierplankton

microscopic animals that float in bodies of water, serving as an important food source for many aquatic organisms

What is a "zooplankton"?

Zooplankton refers to small, often microscopic animals that drift in bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. They are an essential component of the aquatic food chain and serve as a primary food source for many larger organisms. Zooplankton comes in various shapes and sizes, ranging from tiny crustaceans to jellyfish larvae. They exhibit diverse feeding strategies, with some being filter feeders, consuming tiny particles suspended in the water, while others are predators, preying on smaller zooplankton or even other microorganisms. Despite their small size, zooplankton plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine and freshwater ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and energy transfer.

Example

Zooplankton are an essential component of marine ecosystems, comprising a diverse array of tiny organisms such as copepods, krill, and jellyfish.

Zooplankton sind ein wesentlicher Bestandteil mariner Ökosysteme und bestehen aus einer vielfältigen Anordnung von winzigen Organismen wie Copepoden, Krill und Quallen.

Oceanographers use specialized nets to collect zooplankton samples for research purposes, allowing them to study population dynamics and distribution patterns.

Ozeanographen verwenden spezielle Netze, um Zooplankton-Proben für Forschungszwecke zu sammeln, was ihnen ermöglicht, die Populationsdynamik und Verteilungsmuster zu studieren.

word family

zoo

plankton

zooplankton

Noun