phytoplankton
n.
microscopic plants that are part of sea plankton
Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton are the
autotrophic component of
plankton. The name comes from the
Greek terms, phyton or "
plant" and πλαγκτος ("planktos"), meaning "wanderer" or "drifter". Most phytoplankton are too small to be individually seen with the
unaided eye. However, when present in high enough numbers, they may appear as a green discoloration of the water due to the presence of
chlorophyll within their cells (although the actual color may vary with the species of phytoplankton present due to varying levels of chlorophyll or the presence of accessory pigments such as
phycobiliproteins).
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phytoplankton
Noun
1. photosynthetic or plant constituent of plankton; mainly unicellular algae
(hypernym) plant, flora, plant life
(hyponym) planktonic algae
(member-holonym) plankton
Phytoplankton
That portion of the plankton community comprised of tiny plants; e.g. algae, diatoms.
phytoplankton