zooplanktonhttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zooplankton_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezooplankton, n.
Revised 2017

zooplanktonnoun

Biology.
  1. 1897–
    With singular or plural agreement. Plankton consisting of small animals and the immature stages of larger animals. Cf. phytoplankton n.
    1. 1897
      This uniformity..is due to the similarity of the chemical constituents in the water, resulting in a uniform growth of the phyto-plankton and the zooplankton depending upon it.
      Science 23 July 141/1
    2. 1901
      Shallow pools of clear water which were rich in zooplankton.
      Lancet 3 December 1801/1
    3. 1935
      The Rotifera constitute one of the most conspicuous and important groups of the zooplankton.
      P. S. Welch, Limnology ix. 206
    4. 1997
      Many fishes..hover in the water column along the face of a coral reef and feed on zooplankton.
      G. S. Helfman et al., Diversity of Fishes xxiii. 415/1
    5. 2006
      The scientists found a diverse array of rare zooplankton—microscopic animals near the bottom of the marine food chain.
      Independent 11 December 16/1

Originally published as part of the entry for zoo-, comb. form

zooplankton, n. was revised in June 2017.

zooplankton, n. was last modified in July 2023.