holoplankton

[ hol-uh-plangk-tuh n, hoh-luh- ]
/ ˌhɒl əˈplæŋk tən, ˌhoʊ lə- /

noun

plankton that spend their entire life cycle as free-swimming organisms (opposed to hemiplankton).

Origin of holoplankton

OTHER WORDS FROM holoplankton

hol·o·plank·ton·ic [hol-oh-plangk-ton-ik, hoh-loh-] /ˌhɒl oʊ plæŋkˈtɒn ɪk, ˌhoʊ loʊ-/, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for holoplankton

holoplankton
/ (ˌhɒləˈplæŋktən) /

noun

organisms, such as diatoms and algae, that spend all stages of their life cycle as plankton Compare meroplankton

Scientific definitions for holoplankton

holoplankton
[ hŏl′ə-plăngktən, hō′lə- ]

Plankton that remains free-swimming through all stages of its life cycle.