zooplankton etymology

Etymology

The term "zooplankton" is derived from the Greek words:

  • zōon (ζῷον): animal
  • planktos (πλαγκτός): wandering, drifting

Meaning

Zooplankton refers to the microscopic animals (microfauna) that drift or float in the water column of aquatic ecosystems, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers.

Origin

The term "zooplankton" was first coined by the German zoologist and ecologist Victor Hensen in 1887. Hensen used it to describe the diverse assemblage of animals that he observed in plankton samples collected from the North Sea.

Characteristics of Zooplankton

Zooplankton are typically small, ranging in size from a few micrometers to several millimeters. They include a wide variety of species, including:

  • Protozoans (e.g., amoebas, ciliates)
  • Rotifers
  • Cladocerans (e.g., water fleas)
  • Copepods
  • Jellyfish larvae
  • Fish larvae

Zooplankton play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems as they form an important link in the food chain. They are the primary food source for many fish, seabirds, and marine mammals.

zooplankton relate terms

  • plankton

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  • abiogenesis

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  • aerobic

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  • amphibian

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  • anaerobic

    Etymology Anaerobic is derived from two Greek words an not aer air Meaning

  • azoic

    Etymology The word azoic is derived from the Greek prefix a meaning without and

  • azotemia

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  • biography

    Etymology From the Greek bios life and graphein to write Meaning A writt

  • biology

    Etymology and Meaning Biology is derived from the Greek words bios life logos st

  • biome

    Etymology The word biome is derived from the Greek words bios life and oma assem

  • bionics

    Etymology bionics comes from the Greek word bion meaning life and the suffix

  • biopsy

    Etymology Greek bios life opsis view Meaning A medical procedure involvi

  • biota

    Etymology Latin biota Greek bios life Meaning and Origin The term biota refer

  • biotic

    Etymology Derived from the Greek word biotikos meaning pertaining to life First u

  • cenobite

    Etymology The term cenobite is derived from two Greek words koinos meaning comm

  • Cenozoic

    Etymology The term Cenozoic is derived from two Greek words kainos καινός

  • convivial

    Etymology From Latin convivialis meaning pertaining to a feast or banquet Ultimatel

  • epizoic

    Etymology epi Greek meaning upon zōon Greek meaning animal Meaning and Orig

  • epizoon

    Etymology Greek epi upon zoon animal Meaning An organism that lives on th

  • epizootic

    Etymology From Greek epi upon zoon animal osis condition Meaning

  • macrobiotic

    Etymology Derived from Greek roots makros μακρός meaning long or great

  • Mesozoic

    Etymology Mesozoic is a term derived from Ancient Greek meso μέσος meaning

  • microbe

    Etymology The word microbe is derived from the Greek words mikros meaning small an

  • Protozoa

    Etymology Protozoa is derived from two Greek words Protos πρώτος meaning

  • protozoic

    Etymology Protozoa Derived from Ancient Greek protos πρωτος meaning first

  • quick

    Etymology From Latin nexus past participle of nectere to bind Meaning A connection

  • quicken

    Etymology Old English cwicen verb meaning to make alive vivify revive from Pro

  • quicksand

    Etymology Late 16th century from Dutch kwicksand or German Quicksand from quick liv

  • quicksilver

    Etymology Quicksilver is derived from the Old English words cwic meaning alive an

  • quiver

    Etymology Middle English quivre quiveer borrowed from Old French cuivre from Late L

  • revive

    Etymology From Middle English reviven from Old French revivre to revive bring back

  • survive

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  • symbiosis

    Etymology The term symbiosis is derived from the Greek words syn meaning together

  • viable

    Etymology The word viable comes from the Latin word viabilis which means passable

  • viand

    Viand has a long and complex etymology having been borrowed several times into English

  • viper

    Etymology The word viper comes from the Latin word vipera which is derived from the

  • vita

    Etymology Latin vita Proto Indo European gʷʰéiH t ó h₂ Meaning and Origi

  • vital

    Etymology The word vital comes from the Latin word vitalis which means essential t

  • vitamin

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word vita meaning life min is a suffix added t

  • victuals

    Etymology Middle English vitaille vetaille from Old French vitaille from Late Latin

  • viva

    Etymology The word viva comes from the Latin word vivere which means to live It

  • vivace

    Etymology The word vivace comes from the Italian word vivo meaning lively Meani

  • vivacious

    Etymology From French vivace lively spirited from Latin vivāx lively vivaciou

  • vivarium

    Etymology Latin vivarium an enclosure esp for animals from vivus alive Meaning

  • vivid

    Etymology The word vivid originates from the Latin word vivus which means alive

  • vivify

    Etymology Latin vivificus meaning life giving Root viv life ificus ma

  • viviparous

    Etymology Viviparous comes from the Latin words vivus meaning alive and parere

  • vivisection

    Etymology vivi Latin living sectio Latin cutting Meaning Vivisection is t

  • whiskey

    Etymology Whiskey is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic word uisce beatha prono

  • wyvern

    Etymology The word wyvern comes from the Old English word wyvern or wivern whic

  • zodiac

    Etymology The word zodiac is derived from the Late Latin word zōdiacus which in tur

  • zoetrope

    Etymology Zoetrope comes from the Greek words zoe ζωή meaning life and tropos

  • zoic

    Etymology The word zoic comes from the Greek word zōikos which means pertaining to

  • zoolatry

    Etymology Zoolatry n Greek zōon animal latreia worship adoration M

  • zoology

    Etymology Greek zoon animal logia study of Meaning Zoology is the scient

  • zoon

    Etymology The word zoon is derived from the Greek word zōon which means living be

  • zoophobia

    Etymology The word zoophobia is derived from the Greek words zóon animal and ph

  • zooplankton

    Etymology The term zooplankton is derived from the Greek words zōon ζῷον an

  • tabes

    Etymology The word tabes is derived from the Latin word tabēre which means to pin

  • animal

    Etymology The word animal comes from the Latin word animalis meaning having life o

  • rebut

    Etymology The word rebut comes from the Old French word rebouter which means to dri

  • brute

    Etymology The word brute is derived from the Old French word brute which in turn com

  • creature

    Etymology The word creature is derived from the Old French word creature which in tu

  • fauna

    Etymology The word fauna is derived from the Latin word faunus which was the name of

  • precarious

    Etymology The word precarious comes from the Late Latin word precarius meaning obt

  • blog

    Etymology The word blog is a portmanteau of web log The term web log was first coi

  • memory

    Etymology Latin Memoria Proto Indo European PIE smr̥ti Root smr̥ meaning to