Question

Small free-floating animals that form part of plankton is called

Answer 1

Zooplankton are small free-floating animals that form part of plankton, characterized by their inability to swim against currents and their role in aquatic food webs as they feed on phytoplankton and serve as prey for larger animals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Definition of Zooplankton

Small free-floating animals that form part of plankton are commonly referred to as zooplankton. These are tiny and microscopic organisms that drift or float in aquatic environments like the sea or freshwater bodies. Zooplankton chiefly consists of a variety of organisms such as diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans, as well as the eggs and larval stages of larger animals. They play a crucial role in aquatic food webs, serving as a significant source of food for larger aquatic animals.

Zooplankton are distinguished from other types of plankton such as phytoplankton, which are bacteria and algae that use photosynthesis to produce their food from sunlight. On the other hand, zooplankton typically feed on phytoplankton and other smaller organisms. They are a critical component of the planktonic community, which is characterized by organisms that cannot swim against prevailing currents, tides, and waves.

Answer 2

Small free-floating animals in plankton are known as zooplankton, and they play a crucial role in aquatic food webs by feeding on phytoplankton and in turn serving as food for larger, mobile aquatic animals known as nekton.

Step-by-step explanation:

Small free-floating animals that form part of plankton are called zooplankton.

Zooplankton are a critical component of aquatic ecosystems and include small and microscopic organisms such as diatoms, protozoans, small crustaceans, as well as the eggs and larval stages of larger animals.They typically feed on phytoplankton—bacteria and algae that create their own food using sunlight.

While zooplankton themselves drift along with currents, they are a key food source for nekton, which are larger, more mobile aquatic animals like fish and shrimp. These ecosystems interactions take place in the photic zone where sunlight is available, supporting the diverse web of life in bodies of water.