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14.1 PLANKTON

The term ‘plankton’ refers to the group of organisms which float in the surface waters of the rivers, lakes and oceans.

Includes both microscopic plants like algae (phytoplankton) and animals like crustaceans and protozoans (zooplankton) found in all aquatic ecosystems, except certain swift moving waters.

The locomotory power of the planktons is limited so that their distribution is controlled, largely, by currents in the aquatic ecosystems.

The growth rate, productivity and species diversity of plankton in tropical waters especially in mangrove waters are high.