Which term describes a drifting, free-floating organism that is a member of the plankton group?

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

Answer: (C)

The key idea is distinguishing between a collective group and an individual within that group. Plankton refers to the community of drifting organisms in the ocean, not to a single organism. An organism that drifts with currents and is part of that community is called a plankter. Nekton are organisms that actively swim and can move independently of currents, not just drift. A plankton bloom is a rapid increase in plankton population, a phenomenon, not a single organism. So the term for a drifting, free-floating member of the plankton group is plankter.