microplankton
Minute ocean drifters
Microplankton are tiny organisms that drift in bodies of water, ranging in size from about 20 to 200 micrometers—large enough to be visible under a standard microscope but still too small to swim against currents.
This category includes single-celled algae, protozoa, and the larvae of larger marine animals.
Microplankton form a crucial link in aquatic food chains, serving as food for larger zooplankton and filter-feeding animals while also contributing significantly to oxygen production through photosynthesis.
Single-celled silica algae
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
- flagellatesWhips harshly, often ritually
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- protistsEukaryotic microorganisms, mostly unicellular
larvae · nauplii · algae · amoebae · eukaryotes · unicellular
Interconnected predator-prey relationships
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- energy transferPower moving between systems
biomass · filter feeders · predation · detritus · carbon sink · bloom · productivity · chlorophyll
Massive saltwater body
- pelagicOf the open sea
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- water columnVertical section of sea
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
salinity · coastal waters · open sea · estuary · freshwater · brackish · thermocline · neritic
Extremely small in size
- invisibleCannot be seen
- tinyExtremely small in size
- cellularComposed of small units
- single-celledConsisting of one cell
Extracting subset for study
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- oceanographyScientific study of seas
limnology · marine biology · species diversity · seasonal variation · monitoring · water quality · abundance · distribution
diatoms
Single-celled silica algae
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
- flagellatesWhips harshly, often ritually
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
protists · larvae · nauplii · algae · amoebae · eukaryotes · unicellular
food web
Interconnected predator-prey relationships
- carbon cycleBiogeochemical element circulation process
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
- grazingFeeding on pasture
energy transfer · biomass · filter feeders · predation · detritus · carbon sink · bloom · productivity · chlorophyll · bioindicator
ocean
Massive saltwater body
- pelagicOf the open sea
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- water columnVertical section of sea
upwelling · salinity · coastal waters · open sea · estuary · freshwater · brackish · thermocline · neritic · polar seas
minuscule
Extremely small in size
sampling
Extracting subset for study
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
oceanography · limnology · marine biology · species diversity · seasonal variation · monitoring · water quality · abundance · distribution
microplanktonblue whale
Largest mammal on Earth
megafauna · whale · giant squid · jellyfish
microplanktonnekton
Self-propelling aquatic organisms
fish · marine mammals · squid · benthos
microscope, micro, microscopic, microbe, plankton, microscopes, microorganism, microcosm, micrometer