CategoryHierarchies.com

Plankton refers to the diverse community of drifting organisms found throughout the world's oceans and freshwaters. These organisms, including both plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton), are unable to swim against currents and are instead carried by water movements. Plankton plays a crucial role in marine food webs, serving as a primary source of nutrition for many larger marine creatures such as fish, whales, and sea turtles. Despite their small size, plankton contribute significantly to global carbon cycling and help regulate Earth's climate. The study of plankton is known as planktology, which encompasses the investigation of their diversity, distribution, behavior, and ecological significance in aquatic ecosystems.