Question

Which of the following groups of organisms are considered zooplankton? Choose all that apply.

a) diatoms
b) copepods
c) krill
d) radiolarians
e) jellyfish

Answer 1

The organisms considered as zooplankton from the options provided are b) copepods, c) krill, and e) jellyfish. Diatoms and radiolarians are not zooplankton because diatoms are a form of phytoplankton and radiolarians belong to the group of protozoa.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the groups of organisms listed, copepods, krill, and jellyfish are considered to be zooplankton. Zooplankton are essentially tiny aquatic animals that feed on phytoplankton or other zooplankton, and they are an important part of aquatic food webs.

Organisms such as diatoms and radiolarians are not considered zooplankton but rather fall under the category of phytoplankton for diatoms and protozoa for radiolarians, both of which are different types of plankton but not zooplankton. To clarify, diatoms are photosynthetic algae, and therefore producers, while copepods, krill, and jellyfish do not photosynthesize but consume organic material as a source of energy.

Zooplankton, including copepods and krill, play a crucial role in aquatic food chains by transferring energy from the phytoplankton they consume up through the food web to larger predators, including fish such as salmon.

To directly answer the question, the correct options from the list that are considered zooplankton are: b) copepods, c) krill, and e) jellyfish.