Which group includes organisms that can swim actively and move independently of currents?

• A. Plankton
• B. Nekton
• C. Phytoplankton
• D. Plankton Bloom

Answer: (B)

Active swimmers that move regardless of currents are nekton. These organisms can actively propel themselves using fins, tails, or other body parts, allowing them to control their direction and travel across the water column. This includes fish, cephalopods like squid and octopus, marine mammals such as whales and dolphins, and sea turtles. In contrast, plankton are mostly carried by water movement and have limited ability to oppose currents, so they drift or swim only weakly. Phytoplankton are a subset of plankton that use photosynthesis, not a separate group of actively swimming animals. Plankton bloom describes a temporary surge in plankton abundance rather than a type of swimmer. So the group that encompasses organisms that can swim actively and move independently of currents is nekton.