MESOPLANKTON Meaning and
Definition
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Mesoplankton refers to a specific group of planktonic organisms found in marine and freshwater ecosystems that measure between 20 and 200 micrometers in size. This category of plankton lies between the larger macroplankton and the smaller microplankton in terms of size classification. Mesoplankton organisms include a wide variety of tiny animals, such as copepods, chaetognaths, and small jellyfish, as well as some dinoflagellates, diatoms, and other protists.
Mesoplankton play an essential role in the food web and ecosystem dynamics of aquatic environments. They serve as a significant food source for larger zooplankton and many small fish and invertebrates. They also act as consumers of phytoplankton and other smaller planktonic organisms, contributing to the regulation of their populations. Furthermore, mesoplankton contribute to the biological pump, helping to transport carbon dioxide from the surface ocean to deeper waters.
Due to their small size, mesoplankton are often studied using specialized sampling methods, such as plankton nets or sediment traps, which allow scientists to collect and analyze these organisms. Understanding the distribution, abundance, and community composition of mesoplankton is crucial for assessing ecosystem health, studying food web dynamics, and determining the impacts of environmental factors on marine and freshwater ecosystems.
Common Misspellings for MESOPLANKTON
- nesoplankton
- kesoplankton
- jesoplankton
- mwsoplankton
- mssoplankton
- mdsoplankton
- mrsoplankton
- m4soplankton
- m3soplankton
- meaoplankton
- mexoplankton
- mewoplankton
- mesiplankton
- meskplankton
- meslplankton
- mespplankton
- mes0plankton
- mes9plankton
- mesoolankton
- mesollankton
Etymology of MESOPLANKTON
The word "mesoplankton" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "meso" meaning middle or intermediate, and "plankton" meaning floating or drifting organisms.
In marine biology, plankton refers to a diverse group of organisms that live in the water column and drift with currents. They are typically microscopic or small in size and include various plant and animal species. Plankton can be further classified based on their size, including the divisions of nanoplankton, picoplankton, microplankton, mesoplankton, and macroplankton.
The term "mesoplankton" specifically refers to the size range of planktonic organisms that are larger than microplankton but smaller than macroplankton. These organisms are often in the size range of 0.2 to 20 millimeters.
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