what is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton

The most significant difference between zooplankton and phytoplankton is that zooplankton are protozoans and animals, whereas phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms, including algae (protists), blue-green algae or cyanobacteria (bacteria), and organisms such as dinoflagellates, which do not fit neatly into a single ...

1. What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton quizlet?
2. Does zooplankton eat phytoplankton?
3. What are the 3 types of plankton?
4. What distinguishes phytoplankton from other kinds of plankton Why are phytoplankton important?
5. Why is phytoplankton so important?
6. What does a phytoplankton eat?
7. Does zooplankton produce oxygen?
8. Who eats zooplankton in the food chain?
9. What is the relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton?
10. What are the two main types of phytoplankton?
11. Can you see plankton?
12. Is plankton a plant or animal?

What is the difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton quizlet?

What is the main difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton? Phytoplankton produces food via photosynthesis whereas zooplankton must eat food.

Does zooplankton eat phytoplankton?

Most zooplankton eat phytoplankton, and most are, in turn, eaten by larger animals (or by each other). Krill may be the most well-known type of zooplankton; they are a major component of the diet of humpback, right, and blue whales.

What are the 3 types of plankton?

The three most important types of phytoplankton are:

• Diatoms. These consist of single cells enclosed in silica (glass) cases. ...
• Dinoflagellates. This name refers to two whip-like attachments (flagella) used for forward movement. ...
• Desmids. These freshwater photosynthesisers are closely related to green seaweeds.

What distinguishes phytoplankton from other kinds of plankton Why are phytoplankton important?

Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that form the base of the marine food chain. ... They're also important to life on land: phytoplankton produce more than half of Earth's oxygen supply. Zooplankton are small protists or metazoans (e.g. crustaceans and other animals) that feed on the phytoplankton.

Why is phytoplankton so important?

Phytoplankton are microscopic marine organisms that sit at the bottom of the food chain. They are food for other plankton and small fish, as well as larger animals such as whales. Phytoplankton get their energy from carbon dioxide through photosynthesis (like plants) and so are very important in carbon cycling.

What does a phytoplankton eat?

Like land plants, phytoplankton have chlorophyll to capture sunlight, and they use photosynthesis to turn it into chemical energy. They consume carbon dioxide, and release oxygen. All phytoplankton photosynthesize, but some get additional energy by consuming other organisms.

Does zooplankton produce oxygen?

Scientists estimate that 50-80% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. ... But this little bacteria produces up to 20% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere.

Who eats zooplankton in the food chain?

They use photosynthesis to convert energy from sunlight into chemical energy (food). Some of this food passes directly along the food chain when zooplankton eat the phytoplankton and in turn are consumed by larger animals such as fish, whales, squid, shellfish and birds.

What is the relationship between phytoplankton and zooplankton?

Strong relationships exist between phytoplankton and zooplankton. For instance, the main systematic groups of zooplankton include many taxa, which feed on phytoplankton. Selective grazing by zooplankton is an important factor affecting the structure of phytoplankton communities.

What are the two main types of phytoplankton?

The two main classes of phytoplankton are dinoflagellates and diatoms. Dinoflagellates use a whip-like tail, or flagella, to move through the water and their bodies are covered with complex shells.

Can you see plankton?

Despite being largely invisible to the naked eye, plankton can be seen from space when they form massive blooms. And it is also responsible for consuming carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, thus reducing the rising levels of the gas in the atmosphere.

Is plankton a plant or animal?

Plankton includes plants and animals that float along at the mercy of the sea's tides and currents. Their name comes from the Greek meaning "drifter" or "wanderer." There are two types of plankton: tiny plants--called phytoplankton, and weak-swimming animals--called zooplankton.