Facts about Plankton

1. 08

   Krill, shrimp-like zooplankton weighing 1 to 2 grams each, form swarms so dense they can turn ocean water reddish-brown and sustain entire ecosystems from penguins to blue whales.

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2. 07

   Foraminifera, single-celled plankton with calcium carbonate shells, accumulate on ocean floors at rates of 1 to 10 centimeters per 1,000 years, forming sedimentary rock layers that scientists use to reconstruct climate history spanning millions of years.

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3. 06

   Marine zooplankton migrate vertically up to 1,000 meters each day, the largest animal migration on Earth by biomass, moving between deep waters and the surface to feed.

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4. 05

   A single diatom, the most abundant type of phytoplankton, can divide and create 1 million copies of itself in just one week under optimal conditions.

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5. 04

   Bioluminescent dinoflagellates, a type of marine plankton, produce light through chemiluminescence, creating glowing waves that can illuminate coastlines when disturbed by movement.

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6. 03

   During the 1970s, satellite measurements revealed that phytoplankton blooms can cover areas exceeding 100,000 square kilometers, visible from space as brilliant turquoise swirls.

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7. 02

   Copepods, tiny crustacean plankton measuring 0.5 to 2 millimeters, comprise the most abundant multicellular organisms in Earth's oceans by biomass.

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8. 01

   Annually, ocean plankton produce approximately 50 percent of Earth's oxygen through photosynthesis, rivaling all terrestrial plants combined.

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