Open Ocean Biology

productivity - the total biomass of a locality

centrifuge - used to concentrate smaller plankton

zooplankton - 'animal' component of plankton

plankton - total of zooplankton and phytoplankton

shipek - sediment component

sharks - a top predator essential for the health of a local ecology

phytoplankton -  'plant' component of plankton

SIZE OF PLANKTON: In 1965 Dussart proposed the following classification:

netplankton (capable of being collected by net): megaloplankton > 2000µm, mesoplankton 200-2000µm, microplankton 20-200 µm

nanoplankton (centrifugation or ultrafiltration needed): nanoplankton 2-20 µm, ultraplankton < 2 µm

Note: without aid of a lens or microscope, the human eye can discern size down to about 100 µm