ecological importance of protists

Question 1

what is phytoplankton

Answer 1

• photosynthetic plankton

Question 2

how do protists contribute to the food chain

Answer 2

• phytoplankton are the basis of food chains in freshwater and marine environments

Question 3

what is zooplankton

Answer 3

non-photosynthetic plankton

Question 4

how are protists important in terrestrial environments

Answer 4

• key role among detritus feeders that recycle organic matter (decomposers like slime molds)
• detritus : accumulation of disintegrated materiel or debris