noun
- Plural of nekton; aquatic animals that swim actively through water, such as fish, squid, and marine mammals.
Usage: biology; ecology; collective noun
Examples
- Nektons include fish, dolphins, and other creatures capable of independent movement through the ocean.
- Marine biologists study nektons to understand ocean food webs and ecosystem health.
- Unlike plankton, nektons can swim against currents and migrate long distances.
- The diversity of nektons in coral reefs makes them important indicators of reef vitality.
- Nektons are distinguished from benthic organisms that live on the ocean floor.