Recently, scientists reported that more than half of our oceans are turning greener, an indication that they might contain more phytoplankton. Along the California coast, hundreds of sea lions and dolphins turned up sick or dying after being exposed to toxic algae blooms caused by harmful plankton. And in Thailand, thousands of dead fish washed ashore, suffocated by a plankton bloom.
Plankton are the building blocks of marine and freshwater ecosystems, and key to cycling of gases in the Earth's atmosphere. But the planet's waters and air are changing rapidly due to shifting climate, and this affects
"Plankton is not a particular group of organisms; it's many different kinds of organisms that share a lifestyle," he said. They can be found in salt orPlankton are divided into two groups: phytoplankton, which are plants, and zooplankton, which are animals. However, in the plankton world, the distinction between plant and animal is complicated.
In terms of photosynthetic organisms, there is far more diversity in ocean plankton than on land, said Juhl. There are probably 100,000 different species of phytoplankton, each of which may have different characteristics, different ecological functions, and different distributions. Zooplankton, too, include many, many, different groups.
Some examples of phytoplankton are cyanobacteria ; diatoms, which have cell walls of silica, and are the most abundant and diverse group; and dinoflagellates, which have appendages that help them move. All algae are phytoplankton, but not all phytoplankton are algae.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Yohanes Kidane update: Family searching for missing Netflix engineer who recently moved to CAA family is urgently searching for a missing man who recently moved to California to work for Netflix.
Read more »
Yohanes Kidane update: Family searching for missing Netflix engineer who recently moved to CAA family is urgently searching for a missing man who recently moved to California to work for Netflix.
Read more »
Virgo gift guide 2023: The 25 best gifts to buy for this sensible earth signWhat do Virgos want as gift? The practical Virgo needs a thoughtful gift that shows you care. Here are some of the best to buy for this intelligent earth sign.
Read more »
China launches Gaofen Earth-observation satellite (video)The fourth Gaofen 12 is likely primed for radar remote sensing.
Read more »
From Lava to Life: Early Earth’s Highly Oxidized Magma OceanNew research suggests early Earth had a highly oxidized magma ocean, leading to a CO2 and SO2-rich atmosphere. The subsequent accretion of reducing materials was critical for creating a habitable environment. Elucidating the atmosphere and surface environment of the early Earth, especially before
Read more »
Watch Rocket Lab launch Earth-observing radar satellite Aug. 23Liftoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday (Aug. 23).
Read more »