Pleuston and neuston: On the categories of organisms in the uppermost pelagial

The development of the connotations attached to the terms pleuston, neuston, and some of their derivatives is outlined. In the marine literature, the term hyponeuston has presently two principal. quite different meanings: organisms attached from below to the surface film and largely supported by it, and organisms frequenting the upper decimeter of the sea. To reduce the ensuing confusion in the marine realm and to maintain uniformity of aquatic terminology, the term endopleuston is proposed as a replacement for the second, recently acquired meaning of hyponeuston. Another new term, exopleuston, refers to positively buoyant organisms with dry upper surfaces which, however, live principally underwater, in the habitat of the endopleuston. The pleustal is recognized as the habitat of these organisms. It may be useful to regard it as a category. of equal rank the epipelagial or bathypelagial.