Are phytoplankton herbivores omnivores or carnivores?

Answer 1

Phytoplankton by definition are autotrophic photosynthetic protists (eukaryotic single-celled organisms), who use mineral nutrients and atmospheric CO2 , and energy from sunlight to produce organic carbon compounds, later on used as energy source in respiration. So in their ecosystem they position as primary producers.

Herbivores are organisms feeding on phytoplankton, most commonly either rotifers or crustaceans. They are called zooplankton. So herbivory in aqueous ecosystems represents the kind of predator-prey interaction, where prey is algae or bacteria, and predators are either members of zooplankton, or sometimes also Protozoa (ciliates, nanoflagellates), or alveolates (dinoflagellates). Because the latter two can also be itself autotrophic and prey for other herbivores, those relations are little bit mixed up, when it comes to phytoplankton and herbivory.

Answer 2

Mainly, yes. Phytoplankton are plants and zooplankton are animals, and there are very few smaller animals for zooplankton to consume. However, zooplankton may also be "detrivores", feeding on the decomposing remains of animals and plants.

Answer 3

Phytoplankton are similar to plants, in that they contain chlorophyll and photosynthesize. However, phytoplankton are not in the plant kingdom. Rather, the term phytoplankton is used to describe any photosynthetic organism that drifts in the ocean (that is, they do not swim fast enough to control where they are in the ocean and are at the whim of the currents). Included in the phytoplankton are photosynthetic bacteria ("cyanobacteria") and photosynthetic single-celled eukaryotes. Photosynthetic organisms that are not plants can be referred to collectively as "algae".

Answer 4

No, zooplankton are herbivores. Being a herbivore means they only eat plant matter. An omnivore means they eat plants and meat.

Answer 5

No, phytoplankton are not considered types of herbivores. They are considered types of autotrophs. They use photosynthesis to obtain energy and nutrients.

Answer 6

no, phytoplankton are producers, as they carry out photosynthesis.