pleuston
/ˈpluːstɑn/
noun
- Small organisms that live floating on or just below the surface of a body of water.
- The pond's surface was covered with pleuston, including tiny water ferns and floating algae.
- Scientists study pleuston to understand how life adapts to living at the water-air boundary.
- Dragonfly larvae are sometimes part of the pleuston community in calm lakes.