What is plankton?
Plankton are called the smallest living things in the ocean. But as small as they are, the greater their importance. But what is plankton anyway and what is it good for?
Interesting facts about plankton
- The term plankton has its origins in ancient Greek and means something like "wandering around". Indeed, the small organisms in the ocean seem to wander aimlessly. This is because they passively swim with the flow in the water. This is what distinguishes them from the Nekton, which swims against the current. Fish and all animals that move specifically by swimming are counted as part of Nekton.
- Plankton includes bacteria, protozoa, algae, various larvae, worms and some small crustaceans. Their size ranges from less than 0.02 mm to greater than 20 mm.
- These microorganisms play a very large role in the food chain. They are the main food of many marine animals such as fish, mussels, sharks and especially whales.
Habitats of microorganisms
- Microorganisms live everywhere, even in groundwater. But when plankton is mentioned, the organisms living in the open water zone are often referred to. This means the "pelagial", the area of water away from the bank. Depending on the species, they live up to a depth of several kilometers.
- If the microorganisms live in fresh water, it is called limnoplankton. If it lives in sea water, it is called Haliplankton. These organisms do not occur evenly. Their distribution in the ocean is partly determined by currents and light, as well as by existing nutrients.
Animal plankton - information
You have probably already noticed that the sea has different colors ...
- These organisms can also give you information about the water quality. If the water looks blue, it is a sign that there is hardly any. Plankton tends to give the water a greenish tinge. Since it only lives in very nutrient-rich waters, it can be a sign that it is polluted with sewage.
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