1. Plankton organisms that are between 20 and 200 nanometers in size, including viruses and the smallest bacteria and archaea.
Usage: technical; biology
2. Microscopic plankton in the size range of 2 to 20 micrometers, including small algae and protozoans.
Usage: technical; marine biology; sometimes used interchangeably with picoplankton in broader contexts

Examples

• Nanoplankton play a crucial role in ocean food webs despite their microscopic size.
• Scientists study nanoplankton to understand nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems.
• The abundance of nanoplankton varies seasonally in coastal waters.
• Nanoplankton are too small to be seen with a standard light microscope.
• Viral nanoplankton can infect larger marine organisms and influence ocean productivity.