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Introduction to Plankton

Explore the world of plankton, tiny plants and animals that drift in the water unable to swim against currents. Dive into the realm of phytoplankton, the plant-like plankton that harness sunlight for food, and zooplankton, the animal-like plankton that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Unravel the mysteries of dinoflagellates and diatoms among phytoplankton, as well as euphausiids and copepods in zooplankton. Delve into why plankton are vital to ocean life and the complex food web. Discover the fascinating adaptations that enable plankton to thrive in their aquatic environment.

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Introduction to Plankton

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  1. Introduction to Plankton

  2. What Exactly are Plankton? Animals Plants and animals that live in the water and cannot swim against major currents. Plants

  3. Plant-like Plankton = Phytoplankton Single cell or chain of cells http://www.umainetoday.umaine.edu/files/2009/05/chain-200x-darkfield.jpg Over a million phytoplankton in a teaspoon! Bloom off the West coast

  4. Animal-like Plankton = Zooplankton Jellyfish

  5. Phytoplankton Shapes Phytoplankton live near the surface of the ocean because they need sunlight to make food. http://www.activities4kids.com.au/images/swim-floating%20on%20back.jpg http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/92304462/Taxi

  6. Examples of Phytoplankton (Plant-like) Dinoflagellates Diatoms

  7. Adaptations of Phytoplankton • Dinoflagellates • 2 flagella (tails) • Hard shell • Bloom http://uclamarc.blogspot.com/ • Diatoms • Various shapes • Glass cell wall • Spines • Chains http://australianmuseum.net.au/

  8. Types of Zooplankton (Animal-like) • Temporary (or Meroplankton) • 2. Permanent (or Holoplankton) • only part of their life cycle as plankton. • whole life as plankton.

  9. Meroplankton (zooplankton only when young) Crab Larva Reef Fish Larva

  10. Holoplankton (spends whole life as plankton) Euphausiid Copepod Amphipod

  11. Why Are Plankton So Important? http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Media/Images/News-story-images/Sun-rays-over-the-ocean http://www.mbari.org/news/ Small fish http://www.gowerfishing.co.uk/assets/ images/mackerel.jpg Mackerel http://tunaseiners.com/blog/2009/02/tuna/ Tuna http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/1024/blacktip-reef-shark-swimming.jpg

  12. Plankton Tow Aiea High School students aboard the Honu Kai

  13. Summary – Phytoplankton Phytoplankton = plant-like plankton Phytoplankton cannot swim against major currents. Plankton their whole life. Produce 50% of all the oxygen we breathe! Adaptations: spines, chains, and hard shells.

  14. Summary – Zooplankton Zooplankton = animal-like plankton. Zooplankton cannot swim against major currents. Exist as either 1. meroplankton (temporary plankton) 2. holoplankton (plankton their whole life). Zooplankton and phytoplankton are the base of the food web!

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