different between planktonic vs demersal

English

Etymology

From plankton +? -ic, after German planktonisch.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pla?k?t?n?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /plæ?k?t?n?k/

Adjective

planktonic (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to plankton.
   • 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 146:

     Tiny shells of planktonic animals rain down from the surface waters of the ocean on to the deep sea-floor.

2. Floating in the open sea rather than living on the seafloor.

See also

• benthic
• oceanic
• pelagic

English

Etymology

From Latin demersus, past participle of d?merg? (“to sink”); compare demersed.

Adjective

demersal (comparative more demersal, superlative most demersal)

1. (biology) That lives near the bottom of a body of water.
   • 2004, Bjørn Erik Axelsen, Jens-Otto Krakstad, Graça Bauleth-D'Almeida, 7: Aggregation dynamics and behaviour of the Cape horse mackerel (Trahurus trachurus capensis) in the northern Benguela - implications for acoustic abundance estimation, Ussif Rashid Sumaila (editor), Namibia's Fisheries: Ecological, Economic, And Social Aspects, page 149,

     At a certain age, however, the Cape horse mackerel in the northern Benguela tend to adopt a more demersal lifestyle, thus entering into the bottom dead zone.

2. Taking place near the bottom of a body of water.

   demersal fishing

Synonyms

• (living near the bottom of a body of water): benthic

Antonyms

• (living near the bottom of a body of water): planktonic

Translations

See also

• pelagic

Noun

demersal (plural demersals)

1. (biology) Any demersal organism.

Anagrams

• emeralds

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /deme??sal/, [d?e.me??sal]

Adjective

demersal (plural demersales)

1. demersal