Difference Between Phytoplankton And Zooplankton

Plankton refers to plants and animals that are carried by tides and currents. It floats along the ocean and cannot swim against tidal forces. Phytoplankton and Zooplankton are plants and animals, respectively, that are found in the water. They inhabit the surface of the ocean. Phytoplanktons are primary food producers, while Zooplanktons are consumers that eat Phytoplanktons.

Table of Contents:

What is Phytoplankton?
Significance of Phytoplankton
What is Zooplankton?
Difference Between Phytoplankton and Zooplankton
Practice Problems
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Phytoplankton?

Phytoplankton refers to the microscopic plants that inhabit the surface of the ocean. There are tiny organisms that are found in water resources like lakes, ponds and seas. They are called microalgae and are autotrophic plankton. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen to the environment. They may be either photosynthetic or chemosynthetic. Phytoplankton reacts immediately to variations in climate on a global scale. Thus, they are known as good indicators of ocean health.

Chemosynthetic phytoplanktons are present in the deep section of the water bodies, where sunlight cannot be reached. Photosynthetic phytoplanktons are present above the upper layer of the water bodies where sunlight can reach them to perform the process of photosynthesis. Phytoplankton are classified into many types of groups based on their life cycle, biological characteristics and genetics. Algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms and dinoflagellates are the main types of phytoplanktons.

Significance of Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton plays a significant role in the marine food chain.
Marine organisms consume one another for their nutrition, in which Phytoplankton are consumed by other organisms.
They build a strong food chain by providing edible nutrients and protein to other organisms such as shellfish, salmon, crab, and shrimp.
They regulate the carbon cycle of the ocean by intaking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis and releasing back oxygen.

What is Zooplankton?

Zooplankton refers to the small marine organisms that inhabit the surface of the ocean. They are found both in freshwater and marine environments. They can also be seen in the middle layer of water areas. They are heterotrophic planktons and consume phytoplanktons. They swim in the water to search for Phytoplankton or feed on other plankton using sharp pincers in their mouth. Zooplankton are also eaten by other animals like fish and birds.

Zooplanktons are primary and secondary consumers in the aquatic food chains. They are ecologically important species. In fact, the development and survival of marine animals depend on the presence of Zooplankton. Some of the examples of Zooplanktons are shellfish, krills, larval crustaceans, molluscs, etc.

Difference Between Phytoplankton and Zooplankton

Phytoplankton	Zooplankton
Phytoplanktons are small plant-like microbes found in marine and freshwater	Zooplankton are marine organisms found in marine and freshwater.
Their habitat is seen on the upper layer of the water bodies where sunlight reaches.	Their habitat is seen under deep ocean areas where sunlight is difficult to reach.
Phytoplankton liberates oxygen.	Zooplankton consumes oxygen.
After Phytoplankton are grown, they have an appearance of brown cloudy patches.	Most of the Zooplankton are translucent and can be found in different shapes and colours.
They get nutrition through chemosynthesis or photosynthesis, through which they prepare their own food.	Zooplankton gets nutrition by consuming phytoplankton and other zooplankton.
They are the primary producers.	They are the primary or secondary consumers
Examples of phytoplankton are cyanobacteria, diatoms, and dinoflagellates.	Examples of Zooplankton are crustaceans, copepods, krill, and protozoans.

Practice Problems

Q1. Which of the following is not a phytoplankton?

A. Protozoans
B. Dinoflagellates
C. Cyanobacteria
D. None of the above

Answer: A. Protozoans

Q2. Which of the following is not a Zooplankton?

A. Cyanobacteria
B. Protozoans
C. Copepods
D.Krill

Answer: A. Cyanobacteria

Q3. Which of the following gets nutrients from photosynthesis?

A. Diatoms
B. Protozoans
C. Copepods
D. Krill

Answer: A. Diatoms

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is Holoplankton?
Answer: Holoplankton includes both zooplankton and phytoplankton. They are organisms that live in columns of water for their entire life. Some examples are diatoms, krills, etc.

Q2. What is Meroplankton?
Answer: Meroplankton includes both zooplankton and phytoplankton. They have planktonic stages for their entire life. Some of the examples are starfish, fish, worms, etc.

Q3. What is the significance of zooplankton?
Answer: Zooplanktons play an important role in the food cycle of marine animals. They are primary and secondary consumers of phytoplankton.