phytoplankton
Ocean's tiny plants
Phytoplankton are microscopic plant-like organisms that drift in bodies of water, forming the base of aquatic food chains.
They photosynthesize like land plants, producing much of Earth's oxygen.
The term covers diverse species—from diatoms to cyanobacteria—unified by their tiny size and passive movement with currents.
Phytoplankton blooms can turn coastal waters green.
Single-celled silica algae
- dinoflagellateDual-flagellated marine microorganism
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- microalgaeMicroscopic aquatic photosynthetic organisms
- protistUnicellular eukaryotic organism
Flower or flourishing state
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- copepodMinute planktonic crustacean
krill · carbon cycle · nitrogen fixation · ecosystem · biodiversity · carbon sink · spring bloom · red tide
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- autotrophSelf-nourishing organism
light absorption · chloroplast · biomass · glucose · pigment · carotenoid · ATP
Massive saltwater body
- pelagicOf the open sea
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
- salinityDissolved mineral concentration
- currentsDirectional flows of movement
coastal · open ocean · gyre · continental shelf · sea surface · detritus · subtropical
Enclosed body of freshwater
- pondSmall still body
- limnologyStudy of inland waters
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
thermocline · algal bloom · reservoir · watershed · stratification · mixing
Gathering data without contact
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
diatom
Single-celled silica algae
- dinoflagellateDual-flagellated marine microorganism
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- microalgaeMicroscopic aquatic photosynthetic organisms
bloom
Flower or flourishing state
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
copepod · krill · carbon cycle · nitrogen fixation · ecosystem · biodiversity · carbon sink · spring bloom · red tide · eutrophication
chlorophyll
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- sunlightRadiance from our star
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
autotroph · light absorption · chloroplast · biomass · glucose · pigment · carotenoid · ATP
ocean
Massive saltwater body
currents · coastal · open ocean · gyre · continental shelf · sea surface · detritus · subtropical
lake
Enclosed body of freshwater
- pondSmall still body
- limnologyStudy of inland waters
- eutrophicationExcess nutrients depleting oxygen
turbidity · thermocline · algal bloom · reservoir · watershed · stratification · mixing
remote sensing
Gathering data without contact
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
- microscopyTechnique using powerful lenses
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
- ocean thingsocean, wave, dolphin, whale, fish
- marine ecosystemsoceans, zooplankton, marine life, krill, kelp
- ocean resourcesfish stocks, seafood, fisheries, shellfish, kelp