plankton: Quick Facts

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Photos and Videos

Magnified view of pleurosigma angulatum phytoplankton, showing elongated, curved shapes in pink and purple against a black background.

marine zooplankton

The essential role of phytoplankton in ecosystems

Observe diatoms, microscopic sea organisms encased in silicified cell walls with intricate designs

The role of copepods in the marine food chain

Observe permanent plankton, including transparent larvaceans, ciliate protozoans, and other zooplankton

Take an in-depth look at the variety of plankton, from diatoms and microflagellates to jellyfish

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Topics

microplankton phytoplankton zooplankton temporary plankton holoplankton aquatic ecosystem Clark-Bumpus sampler plankton net living things prokaryote virus Biological soil crust Extremophile eukaryote benthos nekton multicellular organism plant fungus

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Marine ecosystem: Plankton

Key People

Viktor Hensen

Viktor Hensen

German physiologist

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Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg

German biologist

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Per Teodor Cleve

Swedish chemist

greylag. Flock of Greylag geese during their winter migration at Bosque del Apache National Refugee, New Mexico. greylag goose (Anser anser)

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