Abstract

In the pelagic environment there is a distinctive ecological group known as plankton. These are represented by all the organisms that live in the water column, excluding the bottoms. The word “plankton” has been used since 1887 to refer to ‘plants’ and animals suspended in the water column and swim freely. Plankton consists of two main groups: phytoplankton (‘vegetal’ component) and zooplankton (animal component, mostly protozoa, small invertebrates and larvae of other animals).