marine snow

biology

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June 30, 2026

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Marine snow is organic material that drifts down from the upper layers of the ocean to the seafloor. It includes aggregates of cells, mucus, dead plankton, and other debris, ranging in size from 0.05 millimeters to 1 centimeter. This "snow" is an important food source for bottom-dwelling organisms.12

Marine snow is formed from various sources, including the molts of crustaceans, plankton feces, and dead plankton. It can be particularly abundant after plankton blooms. This material plays a crucial role in connecting the pelagic (open ocean) and benthic (seafloor) environments by transferring nutrients and organic matter.12

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marine ecosystem
Plankton
…matter form organic aggregates called marine snow to which members of the plankton community may adhere, producing patchiness in biotic distributions. Marine snow includes structures such as aggregates of cells and mucus as well as drifting macroalgae and other flotsam that range in size from 0.5 millimetre to 1 centimetre…
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…matter form organic aggregates called marine snow to which members of the plankton community may adhere, producing patchiness in biotic distributions. Marine snow includes structures such as aggregates of cells and mucus as well as drifting macroalgae and other flotsam that range in size from 0.5 millimetre to 1 centimetre…
Read More