Meroplankton

Meroplankton

Meroplankton are organisms that are planktonic for only a part of their life cycles, usually the larval stage. Examples of meroplankton include the larvae of sea urchins, sea stars, crustaceans, marine worms, some marine gastropods and most fish.

After a period of time in the plankton, meroplankton either graduate to the nekton or adopt a benthic (often sessile) lifestyle on the seafloor.

See also

Sources



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  • meroplankton — [mer΄ō plaŋk′tən] n. [< Gr meros, part (see MERIT) + PLANKTON] an organism that spends only a part of its life cycle as a member of the plankton community (e.g., the barnacle or starfish, in which only the larval stages are planktonic): cf.… …   English World dictionary

  • Meroplankton — meroplanktonas statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Priekrantės organizmai, įeinantys į planktono sudėtį tik tam tikrą laikotarpį, o vėliau pakeičiantys gyvenimo formą (pvz., lervos gyvena vandenyje, o suaugę gyviai – sausumoje) …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • meroplankton — meroplanktonas statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Priekrantės organizmai, įeinantys į planktono sudėtį tik tam tikrą laikotarpį, o vėliau pakeičiantys gyvenimo formą (pvz., lervos gyvena vandenyje, o suaugę gyviai – sausumoje) …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • meroplankton — planktonic eggs and larvae which are temporary members of the plankton, including many fishes …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • meroplankton — /mer euh plangk teuhn/, n. a floating mass of eggs and larvae of organisms that are nektonic or benthic in their adult stage; temporary plankton. [1905 10; back formation from meroplanktonic; see MERO , PLANKTONIC] * * * …   Universalium

  • meroplankton — noun Any organism that spends part of its life cycle (especially the larval stage) as plankton …   Wiktionary

  • meroplankton — mer·o·plankton …   English syllables

  • meroplankton — /ˈmɛroʊplæŋktən/ (say merohplangktuhn) noun Biology organisms which are planktonic for part of their life cycle, as some larvae. Compare holoplankton. {Greek mero(s) part + plankton} …  

  • meroplankton — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Plankton — For other uses, see Plankton (disambiguation). Photomontage of planktonic organisms Plankton (singular plankter) are any drifting organisms (plants …   Wikipedia

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