microplankton
/ˌmaɪkroʊˈplæŋktən/
noun
- Very small plankton, usually between 0.05 and 1 millimeter in size, that float in water and are an important part of the aquatic food chain.
- Microplankton are too small to see without a microscope, but they form the base of many ocean food webs.
- Scientists study microplankton to understand how changes in water temperature affect marine life.
- Whales feed on huge amounts of microplankton by filtering them out of the water.