DOCSLIB.ORG

Pacific Northwest Harmful Algal Blooms Bulletin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Pacific Northwest Harmful Algal Blooms Bulletin Pacic Northwest HAB risk key: Harmful Algal Blooms Bulletin = low = medium Apr 11, 2021 HAB risk = = high The statements, ndings, conclusions, and recommendations do not necessarily reect the views of NOAA or the Department of Commerce. Beach Sampling WA Pseudo-nitzschia & Domoic Acid OR Pseudo-nitzschia & Domoic Acid (Pseudo-nitzschia) (particulate domoic acid) Offshore Sampling (Pseudo-nitzschia) (particulate domoic acid) Pseudo-nitzschia (PN) abundances are quantified for large and small cell morphologies using light microscopy. Threshold values: 50,000 cells/L for large PN; 1,000,000 cells/L for small PN; which trigger additional testing for seawater particulate domoic acid (pDA). Seawater pDA values >200 ng/L lead to toxin accumulation in shellfish such as razor clams. Sampling sites, colored by relative PN abundance (high: > threshold value for either cell morphology; moderate: > 1/3 threshold; low: < 1/3 threshold) and pDA, are shown in the upper left two panels. “No data” indicates that there were no data within the previous 15 days. Time series of PN abundance (cells per liter = c/L) and pDA at select beaches are shown in the upper right main two panels. Offshore samples (lower left) are collected and analyzed at ~2 week intervals during late summer/early fall. Additional samples are collected by a remotely operated Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) that is moored off La Push, WA, in late spring and late summer. Decisions regarding shellfish harvest closures at individual beaches are made by the Washington Department of Health, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and Coastal Treaty Tribes after measuring toxin levels in shellfish collected from each beach (WA link; OR link), and not from the information presented here. However, the information presented here aids coastal managershttp://tinyurl.com/qxku6f8 in betterhttp://tinyurl.com/hd5qq6x understanding and predicting the onset, duration, and magnitude of toxin outbreaks as well as their impacts. Pacific Ocean Indices Ocean Surface Currents Satellite Chlorophyll-a Summary - In late March coastal winds switched to predominantly upwelling-favorable. Since then ocean currents have been pushing a significant amount of riverine water south and offshore. During the past week, relatively cold bottom water (~8 °C) was observed on the shelf near Newport, OR, consistent with upwelling. The recent available satellite imagery shows elevated chlorophyll-a all along the coast north of Cape Blanco, OR, with highest concentrations near Research has shown that toxic HAB events off WA and OR tend to occur Newport, OR, and Grays Harbor, WA. So far, both during or following periods of El Niño and/or positive phases of the PDO, large and small morphologies of Pseudo-nitzschia when ocean temperatures are relatively warm. (PN) cells have been relatively sparse at all Cumulative Wind beaches. Highest concentrations were at Sunset and North-south Wind Stress Stress Seaside Beach, OR on 5-Apr (8,000 cells/L of large morphology cells) and at Kalaloch Beach, WA on 7-Apr (5,000 cells/L of small morphology cells). As a result of the relatively low PN cell abundanc- es, no seawater particulate domoic acid (pDA) samples have been analyzed. Offshore samples have also not been analyzed recently. Washington Southward wind stress drives coastal upwell- and Oregon razor clam DA concentrations continue Clouds often obstruct satellite views, to slowly decrease from highs obtained during the ing that can lead to plankton blooms. North- Primary currents flow north and south in but the extent of phytoplankton fall 2020 event. Samples from most WA beaches ward wind stress tends to push any existing winter and summer, respectively, except blooms can at times be seen from remain elevated over the 20-ppm threshold. The offshore plankton and toxins towards beaches. within ~10 km of shore, where fluctua- space. Blooms do not necessarily exception was Mocrocks, WA, where razor clam In addition, summer/fall toxic blooms often tions follow changes in wind direction. occur in years with a moderate cummulative reflect the presence of toxins. samples were ≤19 ppm as of 1-Apr. In OR, razor upwelling index (i.e. during years with clam DA was 19 ppm at Coos Bay North Jetty on fluctuating winds) rather than in years with LiveOcean Forecast Model 2-Apr, but samples collected at sites north of there sustained upwelling or downwelling winds. remain exceptionally high. Model Columbia River Discharge predicted sea Forecast - The current La Niña conditions are surface transitioning to an ENSO neutral state that is salinity with expected to persist through the summer months. particles The recent PDO value is negative. Coastal winds released near are presently upwelling-favorable and should the Juan de remain so all week. Additional plankton blooms, Fuca eddy and including PN, are likely during this time. The Heceta Bank extended forecast suggests the possibility of a and tracked switch to northward winds (downwelling-favor- The Columbia River plume can help transport HABs and three days into able) next Saturday, but that remains too far into toxins from the south, northward along the WA coast. the future. the future for certainty. For now, the expected However, the plume can also serve as a protective barrier southward and offshore ocean flows should keep by preventing offshore toxins from reaching beaches. beaches free of new marine toxins during the upcoming week. Thus, the risk of a toxic PN Marine Weather Forecast bloom appears low throughout the upcoming week, Mon Tues Wed Thur Mon - NE wind, 10 kt but we recommend consulting the LiveOcean Tues - NE wind, 10 kt forecasts near the week’s end as conditions may Wed - NE wind, 10 kt change. The current risk is with the lingering high Thur - NE wind, 10 kt concentrations of DA in shellfish from the fall 2020 event. Fair weather can support plankton blooms whereas storms can concentrate any plankton and toxins on beaches..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A New Type of Plankton Food Web Functioning in Coastal Waters Revealed by Coupling Monte Carlo Markov Chain Linear Inverse Metho
    A new type of plankton food web functioning in coastal waters revealed by coupling Monte Carlo Markov Chain Linear Inverse method and Ecological Network Analysis Marouan Meddeb, Nathalie Niquil, Boutheina Grami, Kaouther Mejri, Matilda Haraldsson, Aurélie Chaalali, Olivier Pringault, Asma Sakka Hlaili To cite this version: Marouan Meddeb, Nathalie Niquil, Boutheina Grami, Kaouther Mejri, Matilda Haraldsson, et al.. A new type of plankton food web functioning in coastal waters revealed by coupling Monte Carlo Markov Chain Linear Inverse method and Ecological Network Analysis. Ecological Indicators, Elsevier, 2019, 104, pp.67-85. 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.04.077. hal-02146355 HAL Id: hal-02146355 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02146355 Submitted on 3 Jun 2019 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. 1 A new type of plankton food web functioning in coastal waters revealed by coupling 2 Monte Carlo Markov Chain Linear Inverse method and Ecological Network Analysis 3 4 5 Marouan Meddeba,b*, Nathalie Niquilc, Boutheïna Gramia,d, Kaouther Mejria,b, Matilda 6 Haraldssonc, Aurélie Chaalalic,e,f, Olivier Pringaultg, Asma Sakka Hlailia,b 7 8 aUniversité de Carthage, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Laboratoire de phytoplanctonologie 9 7021 Zarzouna, Bizerte, Tunisie.
    [Show full text]
  • SSWIMS: Plankton
    Unit Six SSWIMS/Plankton Unit VI Science Standards with Integrative Marine Science-SSWIMS On the cutting edge… This program is brought to you by SSWIMS, a thematic, interdisciplinary teacher training program based on the California State Science Content Standards. SSWIMS is provided by the University of California Los Angeles in collaboration with the Los Angeles County school districts, including the Los Angeles Unified School District. SSWIMS is funded by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. Plankton Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to do the following: • Determine a basis for plankton classification • Differentiate between various plankton groups • Compare and contrast plankton adaptations for buoyancy Key concepts: phytoplankton, zooplankton, density, diatoms, dinoflagellates, holoplankton, meroplankton Plankton Introduction “Plankton” is from a Greek word for food chains. They are autotrophs, “wanderer.” It is a making their own food, using the collective term for process of photosynthesis. The the various animal plankton or zooplankton eat organisms that drift or food for energy. These swim weakly in the heterotrophs feed on the open water of the sea or microscopic freshwater lakes and ponds. These world of the weak swimmers, carried about by sea and currents, range in size from the transfer tiniest microscopic organisms to energy up much larger animals such as the food jellyfish. pyramid to fishes, marine mammals, and humans. Plankton can be divided into two large groups: planktonic plants and Scientists are interested in studying planktonic animals. The plant plankton, because they are the basis plankton or phytoplankton are the for food webs in both marine and producers of ocean and freshwater freshwater ecosystems.
    [Show full text]
  • Impacts of Climate Change on the Occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms
    Office of Water EPA 820-S-13-001 MC 4304T May 2013 Impacts of Climate Change on the Occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms Summary Background Climate change is predicted to change many Algae occur naturally in marine and fresh waters. environmental conditions that could affect the Under favorable conditions that include adequate natural properties of fresh and marine waters both in light availability, warm waters, and high nutrient the US and worldwide. Changes in these factors levels, algae can rapidly grow and multiply causing could favor the growth of harmful algal blooms and “blooms.” Blooms of algae can cause damage to habitat changes such that marine HABs can invade aquatic environments by blocking sunlight and and occur in freshwater. An increase in the depleting oxygen required by other aquatic occurrence and intensity of harmful algal blooms organisms, restricting their growth and survival. may negatively impact the environment, human Some species of algae, including golden and red health, and the economy for communities across the algae and certain types of cyanobacteria, can produce US and around the world. The purpose of this fact potent toxins that can cause adverse health effects to sheet is to provide climate change researchers and wildlife and humans, such as damage to the liver and decision–makers a summary of the potential impacts nervous system. When algal blooms impair aquatic of climate change on harmful algal blooms in ecosystems or have the potential to affect human freshwater and marine ecosystems. Although much health, they are known as harmful algal blooms of the evidence presented in this fact sheet suggests (HABs).
    [Show full text]
  • Ocean Circulation and Climate: an Overview
    ocean-climate.org Bertrand Delorme Ocean Circulation and Yassir Eddebbar and Climate: an Overview Ocean circulation plays a central role in regulating climate and supporting marine life by transporting heat, carbon, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the world’s ocean. As human-emitted greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) plays an increasingly important role in sequestering anthropogenic heat and carbon into the deep ocean, thus modulating the course of climate change. Anthropogenic warming, in turn, can influence global ocean circulation through enhancing ocean stratification by warming and freshening the high latitude upper oceans, rendering it an integral part in understanding and predicting climate over the 21st century. The interactions between the MOC and climate are poorly understood and underscore the need for enhanced observations, improved process understanding, and proper model representation of ocean circulation on several spatial and temporal scales. The ocean is in perpetual motion. Through its DRIVING MECHANISMS transport of heat, carbon, plankton, nutrients, and oxygen around the world, ocean circulation regulates Global ocean circulation can be divided into global climate and maintains primary productivity and two major components: i) the fast, wind-driven, marine ecosystems, with widespread implications upper ocean circulation, and ii) the slow, deep for global fisheries, tourism, and the shipping ocean circulation. These two components act industry. Surface and subsurface currents, upwelling, simultaneously to drive the MOC, the movement of downwelling, surface and internal waves, mixing, seawater across basins and depths. eddies, convection, and several other forms of motion act jointly to shape the observed circulation As the name suggests, the wind-driven circulation is of the world’s ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Crab Predators Are More Important at Higher Latitudes
    Marine Biology (2019) 166:142 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-019-3587-0 ORIGINAL PAPER Variation in consumer pressure along 2500 km in a major upwelling system: crab predators are more important at higher latitudes Catalina A. Musrri1 · Alistair G. B. Poore2 · Iván A. Hinojosa3,4 · Erasmo C. Macaya4,5,6 · Aldo S. Pacheco7 · Alejandro Pérez‑Matus8 · Oscar Pino‑Olivares1 · Nicolás Riquelme‑Pérez1 · Wolfgang B. Stotz1 · Nelson Valdivia6,9 · Vieia Villalobos1,10 · Martin Thiel1,4,11 Received: 21 January 2019 / Accepted: 10 September 2019 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019 Abstract Consumer pressure in benthic communities is predicted to be higher at low than at high latitudes, but support for this pat- tern has been ambiguous, especially for herbivory. To understand large-scale variation in biotic interactions, we quantify consumption (predation and herbivory) along 2500 km of the Chilean coast (19°S–42°S). We deployed tethering assays at ten sites with three diferent baits: the crab Petrolisthes laevigatus as living prey for predators, dried squid as dead prey for predators/scavengers, and the kelp Lessonia spp. for herbivores. Underwater videos were used to characterize the consumer community and identify those species consuming baits. The species composition of consumers, frequency of occurrence, and maximum abundance (MaxN) of crustaceans and the blenniid fsh Scartichthys spp. varied across sites. Consumption of P. laevigatus and kelp did not vary with latitude, while squid baits were consumed more quickly at mid and high latitudes. This is likely explained by the increased occurrence of predatory crabs, which was positively correlated with consumption of squidpops after 2 h.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Upwelling Revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and Improved 10.1029/2018JC014187 Upwelling Indices for the U.S
    Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans RESEARCH ARTICLE Coastal Upwelling Revisited: Ekman, Bakun, and Improved 10.1029/2018JC014187 Upwelling Indices for the U.S. West Coast Key Points: Michael G. Jacox1,2 , Christopher A. Edwards3 , Elliott L. Hazen1 , and Steven J. Bograd1 • New upwelling indices are presented – for the U.S. West Coast (31 47°N) to 1NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Monterey, CA, USA, 2NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, Boulder, CO, address shortcomings in historical 3 indices USA, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA • The Coastal Upwelling Transport Index (CUTI) estimates vertical volume transport (i.e., Abstract Coastal upwelling is responsible for thriving marine ecosystems and fisheries that are upwelling/downwelling) disproportionately productive relative to their surface area, particularly in the world’s major eastern • The Biologically Effective Upwelling ’ Transport Index (BEUTI) estimates boundary upwelling systems. Along oceanic eastern boundaries, equatorward wind stress and the Earth s vertical nitrate flux rotation combine to drive a near-surface layer of water offshore, a process called Ekman transport. Similarly, positive wind stress curl drives divergence in the surface Ekman layer and consequently upwelling from Supporting Information: below, a process known as Ekman suction. In both cases, displaced water is replaced by upwelling of relatively • Supporting Information S1 nutrient-rich water from below, which stimulates the growth of microscopic phytoplankton that form the base of the marine food web. Ekman theory is foundational and underlies the calculation of upwelling indices Correspondence to: such as the “Bakun Index” that are ubiquitous in eastern boundary upwelling system studies. While generally M. G. Jacox, fi [email protected] valuable rst-order descriptions, these indices and their underlying theory provide an incomplete picture of coastal upwelling.
    [Show full text]
  • Habs in UPWELLING SYSTEMS
    GEOHAB CORE RESEARCH PROJECT: HABs IN UPWELLING SYSTEMS 1 GEOHAB GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS GEOHAB CORE RESEARCH PROJECT: HABS IN UPWELLING SYSTEMS AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME SPONSORED BY THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON OCEANIC RESEARCH (SCOR) AND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION (IOC) OF UNESCO EDITED BY: G. PITCHER, T. MOITA, V. TRAINER, R. KUDELA, P. FIGUEIRAS, T. PROBYN BASED ON CONTRIBUTIONS BY PARTICIPANTS OF THE GEOHAB OPEN SCIENCE MEETING ON HABS IN UPWELLING SYSTEMS AND THE GEOHAB SCIENTIFIC STEERING COMMITTEE February 2005 3 This report may be cited as: GEOHAB 2005. Global Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms, GEOHAB Core Research Project: HABs in Upwelling Systems. G. Pitcher, T. Moita, V. Trainer, R. Kudela, P. Figueiras, T. Probyn (Eds.) IOC and SCOR, Paris and Baltimore. 82 pp. This document is GEOHAB Report #3. Copies may be obtained from: Edward R. Urban, Jr. Henrik Enevoldsen Executive Director, SCOR Programme Co-ordinator Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences IOC Science and Communication Centre on The Johns Hopkins University Harmful Algae Baltimore, MD 21218 U.S.A. Botanical Institute, University of Copenhagen Tel: +1-410-516-4070 Øster Farimagsgade 2D Fax: +1-410-516-4019 DK-1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +45 33 13 44 46 Fax: +45 33 13 44 47 E-mail: [email protected] This report is also available on the web at: http://www.jhu.edu/scor/ http://ioc.unesco.org/hab ISSN 1538-182X Cover photos courtesy of: Vera Trainer Teresa Moita Grant Pitcher Copyright © 2005 IOC and SCOR.
    [Show full text]
  • Upwelling As a Source of Nutrients for the Great Barrier Reef Ecosystems: a Solution to Darwin's Question?
    Vol. 8: 257-269, 1982 MARINE ECOLOGY - PROGRESS SERIES Published May 28 Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. / I Upwelling as a Source of Nutrients for the Great Barrier Reef Ecosystems: A Solution to Darwin's Question? John C. Andrews and Patrick Gentien Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia ABSTRACT: The Great Barrier Reef shelf ecosystem is examined for nutrient enrichment from within the seasonal thermocline of the adjacent Coral Sea using moored current and temperature recorders and chemical data from a year of hydrology cruises at 3 to 5 wk intervals. The East Australian Current is found to pulsate in strength over the continental slope with a period near 90 d and to pump cold, saline, nutrient rich water up the slope to the shelf break. The nutrients are then pumped inshore in a bottom Ekman layer forced by periodic reversals in the longshore wind component. The period of this cycle is 12 to 25 d in summer (30 d year round average) and the bottom surges have an alternating onshore- offshore speed up to 10 cm S-'. Upwelling intrusions tend to be confined near the bottom and phytoplankton development quickly takes place inshore of the shelf break. There are return surface flows which preserve the mass budget and carry silicate rich Lagoon water offshore while nitrogen rich shelf break water is carried onshore. Upwelling intrusions penetrate across the entire zone of reefs, but rarely into the Lagoon. Nutrition is del~veredout of the shelf thermocline to the living coral of reefs by localised upwelling induced by the reefs.
    [Show full text]
  • Life on the Coral Reef
    Coral Reef Teacher’s Guide Life on the Coral Reef Life on the Coral Reef THE CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM The muddy silt drifts out to sea, covering the nearby Coral reefs provide the basis for the most productive coral reefs. Some corals can remove the silt, but many shallow water ecosystem in the world. An ecosystem cannot. If the silt is not washed off within a short pe- is a group of living things, such as coral, algae and riod of time by the current, the polyps suffocate and fishes, along with their non-living environment, such die. Not only the rainforest is destroyed, but also the as rocks, water, and sand. Each influences the other, neighboring coral reef. and both are necessary for the successful maintenance of life. If one is thrown out of balance by either natural Reef Zones or human-made causes, then the survival of the other Coral reefs are not uniform, but are shaped by the is seriously threatened. forces of the sea and the structure of the sea floor into DID YOU KNOW? All of the Earth’s ecosystems are a series of different parts or reef zones. Understand- interrelated, forming a shell of life that covers the ing these zones is useful in understanding the ecol- entire planet – the biosphere. For instance, if too many ogy of coral reefs. Keep in mind that these zones can trees are cut down in the rainforest, soil from the for- blend gradually into one another, and that sometimes est is washed by rain into rivers that run to the ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Plankton Biomass and Food Web Structure
    Plankton Biomass and Food Web Structure Matthew Church OCN 621 Spring 2009 Food Web Structure is Central to Elemental Cycling “Microsystems” In every liter of seawater there are all the organisms for a complete, functional ecosystem. These organisms form the fabric of life in the sea - the other organisms are embroidery on this fabric. Important things to know about ocean ecosystems • Population size and biomass (biogenic carbon): provides information on energy available to support the food web • Growth, production, metabolism: turnover of material through the food web and insight into physiology. • Controls on growth and population size In a “typical” liter of seawater… •Fish None • Zooplankton 10 • Diatoms 1,000 • Dinoflagellates 10,000 • Nanoflagellates 1,000,000 • Cyanobacteria 100,000,000 • Prokaryotes 1,000,000,000 • Viruses 10,000,000,000 High abundance does not necessarily equate to high biomass. Size is important. 1011 1010 Viruses 109 Bacteria 108 Cyanobacteria 107 106 Protists 105 104 103 102 101 Phytoplankton 100 Abudance (number per liter)Abudance 10-1 Zooplankton 10-2 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 Size (µm) Why are pelagic organisms so small? Consider a spherical cell: SA = 3.1 µm2 SA= 4πr2 r = 0.50 µm V = 0.52 µm3 SA : V = 15.7 V= 4/3 πr3 SA = 12.6 µm2 r = 1.0 V = 4.2 µm3 SA : V = 3.0 The smaller the cell, the larger the SA:V Greater SA:V increases their ability to absorb nutrients from a dilute solution. This may allow smaller cells to out compete larger cells for limiting nutrients.
    [Show full text]
  • OCN 201 El Nino
    OCN 201 El Nino El Nino theme page http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/nino-home-low.html Reports to the Nation http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/elnino/report/el-nino-report.html This page has all the text and figures and also how to get the booklet 1 El Nino is a major reorganisation of the equatorial climate system that affects regions far from its point of origin in the western Equatorial Pacific Occurs roughly every 6 years around Xmas-time Onset recognised by climatic effects --warm surface waters -- collapse of fisheries -- heavy rains in Peru/Ecuador/central Pacific -- droughts in Indonesia -- change in typhoon tracks Is a good example of how the ocean and atmosphere interact 2 What phase do you think we are in now? A El Nino B La Nina C Normal D I don’t know! A = El Nino 2014 2015 Southern Oscillation Atmospheric pressure differential between Tahiti and Darwin Normally low pressure in Darwin, high in Tahiti Low pressure High pressure Normal El Nino El Nino high pressure in Darwin, low in Tahiti Change in pressure differential results in weakening of easterly equatorial winds 3 Normal conditions in the Equatorial Pacific Strong easterly winds: Pile up warm water in the western Pacific -- thermocline deep in western Pacific, shallow in eastern Pacific Winds drive equatorial upwelling How much higher do you think that sea level is in the western Pacific? A 10cm B 50 cm C 1 metres D 5 metres E More! About 40 cm 4 Satellite image of chlorophyll abundance As thermocline is shallow in eastern Pacific upwelling brings nutrients to surface waters along
    [Show full text]
  • Great Plankton Sink Off Distance Learning Activity
    Great Plankton Sink Off Distance Learning Activity Introduction: Explore the wonderful and diverse world of plankton and get creative by making your very own plankton. Learn about how these (mostly) microscopic organisms survive in the big blue ocean and the vital role they play in the ocean’s food web. This activity is great for all ages. Make sure to check out the guided activity video! Materials: • Large container of water (something with depth like a bucket, storage bin, etc.) • Stopwatch/ timer • Modeling clay or play dough broken up into quarter sized balls • Materials to build plankton (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, paper clips, beads, misc. craft supplies) • Paper/ white board for recording times Background: Plankton are a group of marine and freshwater organisms that drift through the water. Many of these plankton can swim but they are too small to move against a current. The word plankton comes from the Greek word “planktos” which means wandering. There are two types of plankton, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Phytoplankton are the plant like plankton. Like plants they photosynthesize to create food and oxygen. About 50% of the oxygen in our atmosphere is produced by phytoplankton. Phytoplankton is eaten zooplankton. Zooplankton are animal plankton and most ocean animals, including fish, crustaceans and mollusks, begin their lives with a planktonic stage. These tiny plants and animals are the base of the food web in the ocean. Plankton are eaten by many animals including crustaceans, fish, and even baleen whales. Phytoplankton Zooplankton • Plant like • Animal like • Photosynthesize to create food • Eat other organisms • Single celled organism • Single celled or multi-celled Don’t forget to share your plankton creation with us on Twitter or Instagram! Phytoplankton lives near the top of the ocean in an area called the photic zone to photosynthesize.
    [Show full text]