Phytoplankton & Zooplankton
Coming Soon
Phytoplankton Bloom- Photo by National Geographic
Phytoplankton
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The pictures above show phytoplankton on the microscopic level
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Phytoplankton are microscopic plants that are the major producers of the Antarctic
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Phytoplankton are the food source for Zooplankton
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Due to an extremely low Reynold's number, the phytoplankton move with the currents (they get pushed around!)
Zooplankton
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Small (1 cm to 15 cm) shrimp-like creatures
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Provides a food source for most other life forms in Antarctica, such as penguins
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Sometimes found in groups called swarms
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Due to a low Reynold's number, the krill mostly move with the currents (because they will use less energy) but they can also move freely
The picture to the left shows a tow net off the back of the Laurence M. Gould. The ship that got us to Antarctica! The net will help us catch a variety of small marine animals that are collectively called zooplankton. The net is lowered and the boat drives forward.