Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Secret Life of Plankton

  • Plankton are tiny floating organisms (living things) that are found in both the sea and ponds and lakes.

  • The word ‘plankton’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘wandering’.

  • Plankton is a general term that includes every marine organism too small and weak to swim for itself.

  • The smallest algae are called plankton, but large floating algae (seaweeds) are not called plankton.

  • Plankton can be divided into phytoplankton, which are tiny plants, and zooplankton, which are tiny animals, but the division is blurred.

  • Most phytoplankton is very tiny indeed and so called nannoplankton and microplankton. Zooplankton is generally bigger and called macroplankton.

  • Green algae that give many ponds a bright green floating carpet are kinds of plankton.

  • Phytoplankton get their energy by photosynthesis just like other plants.

  • Countless puffs of oxygen given out by plankton early in Earth’s history gave the air its vital oxygen.

  • Plankton is the basic food of all shellfish.

    Gef would like to share this fascinating video

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFQ_fO2D7f0&feature=player_embedded#!

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