Definitions
- Describing aquatic animals that swim actively in the water column, independent of currents. - Referring to organisms that can move freely in the water and are not attached to the bottom or surface. - Talking about marine creatures that have developed adaptations to actively swim and hunt for food.
- Referring to the open ocean environment, away from the shore and the seafloor. - Describing organisms that live and move in the water column, including nektonic and planktonic organisms. - Talking about the zone of the ocean that is not near the coast or the seafloor, but rather in the open water.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe aquatic environments and organisms.
- 2Both words refer to organisms that live and move in the water column.
- 3Both words are used to describe marine life that is not attached to the seafloor or the shore.
- 4Both words are used in scientific contexts to describe oceanography and marine biology.
What is the difference?
- 1Scope: Pelagic refers to the open ocean environment, while nektonic specifically describes organisms that swim actively in the water column.
- 2Size: Pelagic encompasses a larger area of the ocean than nektonic, which refers to a specific type of organism.
- 3Adaptations: Nektonic organisms have developed adaptations to actively swim and hunt for food, while pelagic organisms may include both nektonic and planktonic organisms.
- 4Depth: Pelagic can refer to any depth in the water column, while nektonic organisms are typically found in the upper layers of the ocean.
- 5Usage: Pelagic is more commonly used in scientific contexts, while nektonic is less common and more specialized.
Remember this!
Nektonic and pelagic are both terms used to describe aquatic environments and organisms. However, nektonic specifically refers to organisms that swim actively in the water column, while pelagic encompasses a larger area of the ocean and includes both nektonic and planktonic organisms. Nektonic organisms have developed adaptations to actively swim and hunt for food, while pelagic organisms may include both nektonic and planktonic organisms.
