Plankton Assessment

Front

What are phytoplankton?

Back

Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that live in aquatic environments and are primary producers, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Front

What is the largest type of zooplankton?

Back

The largest type of zooplankton is the jellyfish.

Front

What are zooplankton?

Back

Zooplankton are small, often microscopic animals that drift in water and feed on phytoplankton.

Front

What are copepods?

Back

Copepods are a type of small crustacean that are classified as plankton and are a significant part of the zooplankton community.

Front

What is the difference between plankton, nekton, and benthos?

Back

Plankton are organisms that drift in water, nekton are free-swimming organisms, and benthos are organisms that live on or in the ocean floor.

Front

Why do zooplankton migrate vertically?

Back

Zooplankton migrate vertically to feed on phytoplankton at the surface during the night while avoiding predators.

Front

What role do phytoplankton play in the ecosystem?

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Phytoplankton are crucial for the ecosystem as they produce oxygen and serve as the base of the aquatic food web.

Front

What is the Mesopelagic Zone?

Back

The Mesopelagic Zone is a layer of the ocean between 200 and 1000 meters deep, where light begins to fade and many organisms, including zooplankton, migrate.

Front

What is the Epipelagic Zone?

Back

The Epipelagic Zone is the upper layer of the ocean, extending from the surface to about 200 meters deep, where there is enough light for photosynthesis.

Front

What are meroplankton?

Back

Meroplankton are organisms that are planktonic for only part of their life cycle, such as the larval stages of fish and invertebrates.