Helium-3 dating reveals new plankton species emerged within thousands—and sometimes just 2,000—years after the dinosaur-killing…
Browsing: Plankton
Plankton are a diverse group of microscopic organisms that drift or float in the ocean, seas, and bodies of fresh water. They are primarily divided into two categories: phytoplankton, which are photosynthetic and include algae and cyanobacteria, and zooplankton, which are typically tiny animals or the larval stages of larger animals. Phytoplankton are crucial to aquatic ecosystems as they form the base of most aquatic food webs, producing organic compounds through photosynthesis that serve as food for marine and freshwater species. Zooplankton, on the other hand, feed on phytoplankton and other microscopic food sources, bridging the energy transfer from primary producers to larger predatory organisms, including fish and marine mammals. The distribution and abundance of plankton are influenced by environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, and nutrient availability, making them sensitive indicators of changes in water quality and climate conditions.
A new study suggests that some of the world’s oxygen-deprived oceans could eventually regain higher…
The ocean’s smallest organisms could hold the biggest clues to Earth’s climate future. The ocean’s…
More than 20% of the global ocean has undergone significant darkening over the last two…
A new study reveals a genetically distinct type of Baltic herring that thrives on a…
Utilizing zooplankton’s feeding habits, researchers aim to boost oceanic carbon sequestration by introducing clay particles…
A study reveals plankton, crucial for marine ecosystems, cannot adapt to rapid global warming, threatening…
Stanford researchers have discovered that microscopic marine organisms produce mucus “parachutes” that slow their descent,…
Microfossils dating back half a billion years have been discovered by a scientist from the…
A new study reveals that rising global temperatures could convert widespread microbial communities worldwide from…
As global temperatures return to levels seen 8 million years ago, tropical plankton are migrating…
Bioluminescence is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular natural phenomena to experience in…
Researchers have proved for the first time that corals’ fluorescent colors are intended to attract…
An international team of researchers has discovered a new type of fossilization. Discovery of ‘ghost’…
Plankton eaters play key role in transferring offshore resources to coral reef ecosystems. A new…
The weird and wonderful genome of dinoflagellates looks nothing like other eukaryotic genomes. The genome…
Whether it’s plankton exposed to parasites or people exposed to pathogens, a host’s initial immune…
Rising temperatures could reduce the efficiency of food chains and threaten the survival of larger…