Which term describes organisms that are planktonic only during larval or juvenile stages?

Which term describes organisms that are planktonic only during larval or juvenile stages?

• A. Holoplankton
• B. Macroplankton
• C. Meroplankton
• D. Microbial Loop

Answer: (C)

Meroplankton are organisms that are planktonic only during their larval or juvenile stages, while adults live in other habitats such as on the sea floor or in the water column away from the plankton. This includes the larval stages of many fish, crabs, mollusks, and echinoderms, which drift or swim as part of the plankton before maturing into non-planktonic adults. Holoplankton, by contrast, spend their entire life cycle as plankton. Macroplankton and microplankton refer to size categories within plankton, not life-history strategies.

Meroplankton are organisms that are planktonic only during their larval or juvenile stages, while adults live in other habitats such as on the sea floor or in the water column away from the plankton. This includes the larval stages of many fish, crabs, mollusks, and echinoderms, which drift or swim as part of the plankton before maturing into non-planktonic adults. Holoplankton, by contrast, spend their entire life cycle as plankton. Macroplankton and microplankton refer to size categories within plankton, not life-history strategies.