Phytoplankton

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-021004",
  "term": "Phytoplankton",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Very tiny, often microscopic, plants found in fresh and saltwater. Phytoplankton drift near the surface of the water where there is plenty of sunlight for growth. Phytoplankton form the basis for all food chains.\n\n2. (Flo-tow-PANK-ton) Small, usually microscopic plants (such as algae), found in lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of water.\n\n3. Tiny, single-celled planktonic plants. Also called algae. Phytoplankton are the primary producers of food and oxygen in the Bay food web.\n\n4. That portion of the plankton community comprised of tiny plants; e.g. algae, diatoms.\n\n5. A very small plant species that usually lives on the surface of bodies of water, such as lakes.\n\n6. Plant microorganisms that float in the water, such as certain algae.\n\n7. Small plant-like organisms, such as the algae and bacteria found in marine ecosystems, that perform photosynthesis.",
  "subject": "Ecosystems",
  "references": [
    "Aquatic Biodiversity Glossary; Ecoview Glossary",
    "Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms",
    "Chesapeake Bay Glossary",
    "Terms of Environment; Federal Remediation Technologies Roundtable Glossary",
    "Acid Rain Students Site: Glossary",
    "Lake Erie Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) Glossary",
    "My NASA Data Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/phytoplankton/"
}