phytoplankton Archives

Many fish species survive by eating tiny zooplankton that drift over the reef. Studies have shown that these fishes can have a measurable effect on the numbers of zooplankton on the downstream side of the reef. Photo credit: NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection, Bonaire 2008: Exploring Coral Reef Sustainability with New Technologies.; NOAA/OAR/OER

Zooplankton Make Mini-Migrations All Day Long

August 30, 2021August 23, 2021 Science Connectedphytoplankton, zooplankton

Every night, tiny animals called zooplankton migrate from the deep sea to the surface. Just before sunrise, they return to the ocean depths. Why?

Ecology Environment Marine and Freshwater Biology Oceanography

Plankton Predict Red Sea Fishing Success

March 30, 2021September 2, 2021 Science Connectedfishing, oceans, phytoplankton

Phytoplankton blooms hold the key to setting sustainable and fair fishing quotas each year—a win-win situation for the economy and the ecosystem.

Biology Oceanography SciStarter Blog

Why Citizen Scientists Study Phytoplankton in Antarctica

June 10, 2019September 2, 2021 Science Connectedantarctica, citizen science, climate change, phytoplankton

By Allison Cusick and Verena Meraldi Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography are working with Antarctic tour operators like Hurtigurten to enable vacationers to serve as citizen scientists with the FjordPhyto citizen science project. Travelers collect samples of phytoplankton from Antarctic fjords in an effort to understand the base of the food web, helping scientists learn how one of the most fertile ocean regions in the world may be changing. Human Impact in Remote Areas You would think that the most remote continent on Earth, Antarctica, would be the least…