Plankton
Ocean's floating life
Plankton are tiny organisms that drift in bodies of water, unable to swim against currents.
They include both plant-like phytoplankton, which photosynthesize and form the base of aquatic food chains, and animal-like zooplankton, which feed on other plankton.
Despite their microscopic size, plankton are ecologically massive—they produce much of Earth's oxygen and sustain marine life from small fish to whales.
The whale shark filters plankton through its gills.
Minute aquatic crustaceans
- krillSmall marine crustaceans
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- larvaeImmature metamorphosing creatures
cyanobacteria · jellyfish · amphipods · flagellates · nauplii
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
nutrients · biomass · grazing · predation · filter feeding · decomposition · nitrogen fixation · chlorophyll
Massive saltwater body
- seaSaltwater body, not ocean
- waterClear essential liquid
- microscopicToo small for eyes
- driftingMoving without purpose
currents · marine · aquatic · saltwater · freshwater · surface · depth · bloom
Extracting subset for study
- netFinal amount remaining
- towPull something behind
- microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
classification · study · research · oceanography · limnology · specimen · identification · culture
Absorbent animated sea creature
- SheldonMale given name
- formulaFixed method or notation
- villainWicked story antagonist
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
Krabby Patty · Bikini Bottom · Karen · tiny · green · evil · restaurant · rival
copepods
Minute aquatic crustaceans
- krillSmall marine crustaceans
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
larvae · cyanobacteria · jellyfish · amphipods · flagellates · nauplii
food chain
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
oxygen · nutrients · biomass · grazing · predation · filter feeding · decomposition · nitrogen fixation · chlorophyll · productivity
ocean
Massive saltwater body
- seaSaltwater body, not ocean
- waterClear essential liquid
- microscopicToo small for eyes
drifting · currents · marine · aquatic · saltwater · freshwater · surface · depth · bloom · swarm
sampling
Extracting subset for study
- netFinal amount remaining
- towPull something behind
- microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
taxonomy · classification · study · research · oceanography · limnology · specimen · identification · culture · laboratory
SpongeBob
Absorbent animated sea creature
Krabby Patty · scheme · Bikini Bottom · Karen · tiny · green · evil · restaurant · rival · Nickelodeon
- one-eyed characterscyclops, Polyphemus, Mike Wazowski, beholder, one-eyed giant
- SpongeBob SquarePantsSpongeBob, Patrick Star, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy Cheeks
- TV VillainsCersei Lannister, Gus Fring, Negan, Night King, The Governor
- villainsvillain, antagonists, Darth Vader, evil characters, Joker
Planktonblue whale
Largest mammal on Earth
whale · leviathan · megafauna · whales · apex predators
Planktonapex predator
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
killer whale · great white shark · orca · barracuda · predator
- plankton bloomsMass growth of microorganisms