Definitions
Zooplankton = all heterotrophic plankton except
bacteria
Nutritional modes in
zooplankton:
Phagotrophs: heterotrophs
that ingest particulate matter and bacteria
and
by phagocytosis, e.g., forams
Osmotrophs: heterotrophs
(and autotrophs) that take up dissolved organic
material
Herbivores : feed primarily on phytoplankton
Carvivores : feed primarily on other
zooplankton (animals)
Detrivores : feed primarily on dead
organic matter (detritus)
Omnivores : feed on mixed diet of plants and animals and detritus
Type of life cycle:
Holoplankton : spend entire life in the
water column (pelagic)
Meroplankton : spend only part of their
life in the pelagic, mostly larval forms of invertebrates and fish. The diet of
meroplankton is often described as either p planktotrophic (which
can include any of the nutritional modes
described above) or lecithotrophic . The latter group does not feed and relies on the yolk
provided the larva.