periphyton

noun

pe·riph·y·ton pə-ˈri-fə-ˌtän

: organisms (such as some algae) that live attached to underwater surfaces

periphytic

ˌper-ə-ˈfi-tik

adjective

Examples of periphyton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Lack of freshwater has caused periphyton, which forms the basis of the marsh food chain, to collapse in some places. —

Jenny Staletovich, miamiherald, 5 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Russian perifitón, probably borrowed from Greek períphyton, neuter of períphytos, verbal adjective of periphýesthai "to grow all around," from peri- peri- + phýesthai "to grow, spring up," middle voice of phýein "to bring forth, produce" (formed in Russian by analogy with planktón plankton) — more at be

Note: The Russian term was introduced by the hydrobiologist Arvid Liborʼevič Bening (1890-1943, of Volga and Bessarabian German ancestry) in K izučeniju pridonnoj žizni reki Volgi, Monografija No. 1 Volžckoj Biologičeskoj Stancii (Saratov, 1924).

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of periphyton was in 1931

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