Tychoplankton

Tychoplankton (Greek, "tycho," accident, chance)[1] are organisms, such as free-living or attached benthic organisms and other non-planktonic organism, that are carried into the plankton through a disturbance of their benthic habitat, or by winds and currents.[2] This can occur by direct turbulence or by disruption of the substrate and subsequent entrainment in the water column.[2][3] Tychoplankton are, therefore, a primary subdivision for sorting planktonic organisms by duration of lifecycle spent in the plankton, as neither their entire lives nor particular reproductive portions are confined to planktonic existence.[4]

They are also known as accidental plankton or pseudo-plankton (compare: pseudoplankton), although "pseudoplankton" also defines organisms that do not themselves float but, rather, are attached to other organisms that float.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Robertson’s Words for a Modern Age". Senior Scribe Publications. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapman, Lynn Margulis, Michael J. (2009). Kingdoms and Domains: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth ([4th ed.]. ed.). Amsterdam: Academic Press/Elsevier. p. 566. ISBN 0123736218.
  3. ↑ Simberloff, edited by Daniel; Rejmánek, Marcel (2011). Encyclopedia of biological invasions. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 736. ISBN 978-0520264212.
  4. ↑ Kennish, edited by Michael J. (2004). Estuarine Research, Monitoring, and Resource Protection. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press. p. 194. ISBN 0849319609.