1. What are plankton? At the mercy of tides, currents and waves Small (generally) Source of food for other sea creatures Include plants and animals –Zooplankton = animals –Phytoplankton = plants At the mercy of tides, currents and waves Small (generally) Source of food for other sea creatures Include plants and animals –Zooplankton = animals –Phytoplankton = plants

2. Why are phytoplankton important?

3. Provide roughly 50% of the world’s oxygen!! Phytoplankton are so abundant they….

4. There are many types of phytoplankton Diatoms Dinoflagellates Coccolithophores Where do phytoplankton live? Live near the surface Small Abundant

5. How can we measure the abundance of phytoplankton?

6. Phytoplankton contain colorful pigments More phytoplankton = more pigment Phytoplankton contain colorful pigments More phytoplankton = more pigment Blue-green algae bloom

7. How can we measure the abundance of phytoplankton?

8. Satellites The orbiting satellite can view every square kilometer of cloud-free ocean every 48 hours!

9. Can phytoplankton swim?