Why are plankton at the top of the ocean water?
Most of the plankton in the ocean are plants. Phytoplankton produce their own food by lassoing the energy of the sun in a process called photosynthesis. So for sunlight to reach them, they need to be near the top layer of the ocean.
Where are phytoplankton located in the ocean?
Phytoplankton thrive along coastlines and continental shelves, along the equator in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and in high-latitude areas. Winds play a strong role in the distribution of phytoplankton because they drive currents that cause deep water, loaded with nutrients, to be pulled up to the surface.
What is phytoplankton and where are they located in the water Why is their location so important?
Phytoplankton are the photosynthetic portion of plankton life. Plankton are the tiny, drifting organisms that live in the top layers of ocean and lakes. Because phytoplankton rely on sunlight to produce their own food, they are found in the top layer of water.
What is phytoplankton and where are they located in the water?
Phytoplankton are microscopic marine algae. Phytoplankton, also known as microalgae, are similar to terrestrial plants in that they contain chlorophyll and require sunlight in order to live and grow. Most phytoplankton are buoyant and float in the upper part of the ocean, where sunlight penetrates the water.
Does phytoplankton float close to surface?
Plankton, explained. Tiny phytoplankton, magnified here, float near the surface of the water. They form the base of the vast oceanic food web.
What zone does phytoplankton live in?
photic zone Planktonic aquatic organisms such as phytoplankton, are shallow water creatures; they are restricted to the photic zone in oceans because growth is totally dependent upon photosynthesis.
Where is phytoplankton most abundant?
Phytoplankton are most abundant (yellow, high chlorophyll) in high latitudes and in upwelling zones along the equator and near coastlines. They are scarce in remote oceans (dark blue), where nutrient levels are low.
Where in the open ocean are phytoplankton the most productive?
Phytoplankton are most abundant (yellow, high chlorophyll) in high latitudes and in upwelling zones along the equator and near coastlines. They are scarce in remote oceans (dark blue), where nutrient levels are low. This map shows the average chlorophyll concentration in the global oceans from July 2002–May 2010.
What does phytoplankton need to survive?
Along with sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, phytoplankton require a variety of other nutrients from the water including nitrogen, phosphorous and iron. The most important are nitrogen and phosphorous which are essential to survival and reproduction.
How do phytoplankton stay in the photic zone?
To stay in the photic zone, plankton have special adaptations to remain afloat. Dinoflagellates, a type of phytoplankton, use flagella, or long tails to help stay afloat; ciliates use cilia, or hair-like extensions. Other plankton form chains with each other to gain surface area to stay afloat.
What is plankton in the ocean?
Plankton are marine drifters — organisms carried along by tides and currents. Phytoplankton blooms in the Barents Sea, shown in natural color from NASA's Aqua satellite on July 10, 2014. The solid white area in the top right corner is cloud cover. Credit: NASA's Earth Observatory.
Why do phytoplankton grow and survive on the underside of sea ice?
Like plants on land, phytoplankton use sunlight and nutrients to produce their own food. Cold, polar water is the perfect breeding ground for phytoplankton. Each spring when sea ice melts in the Arctic or Antarctic, the ice leaves behind a layer of fresh water on the ocean surface that is full of nutrients.
Which part of the ocean is most productive the middle of the ocean or near the continents?
Coastal waters are more productive than the central ocean for two main reasons. First, runoff from land often contains a high abundance of nutrients which get deposited in coastal waters and stimulate production.
Which part of the ocean is most productive?
Although they occupy less than two percent of the oceans, the coastal upwelling areas in the eastern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean are among the biologically most productive marine areas worldwide.
How do phytoplankton adapt to coral reefs?
Plankton avoid sinking through increased surface area. Flattened bodies and appendages, spines, and other body projections slow sinking by adding surface area without increasing density. Some phytoplankton also avoid sinking by forming large chains.
Why are phytoplankton important in the Arctic?
Phytoplankton consist mostly of algae and bacteria and are the foundation of the marine food chain. Phytoplankton, shrimp, and other small organisms feed the fish. These, in turn, feed the seals, which feed the bears. Like plants on land, phytoplankton use sunlight and nutrients to produce their own food.
How do plankton adapt to their environment?
Plankton avoid sinking through increased surface area. Flattened bodies and appendages, spines, and other body projections slow sinking by adding surface area without increasing density. Some phytoplankton also avoid sinking by forming large chains.
Why are phytoplankton abundant in the high latitudes?
Phytoplankton thrive along coastlines and continental shelves, along the equator in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and in high-latitude areas. Winds play a strong role in the distribution of phytoplankton because they drive currents that cause deep water, loaded with nutrients, to be pulled up to the surface.
What zone is phytoplankton in?
Planktonic aquatic organisms such as phytoplankton, are shallow water creatures; they are restricted to the photic zone in oceans because growth is totally dependent upon photosynthesis.
Where in the ocean is productivity high at the surface Why?
We think of the tropics as being highly productive areas. And they are, on land. In the ocean, the surface water gets very warm and remember that warm water is less dense than cold. This means the warm water in effect gets stuck above the cold water where all the nutrients are.
How are plankton adapted to life in the ocean?
Plankton avoid sinking through increased surface area. Flattened bodies and appendages, spines, and other body projections slow sinking by adding surface area without increasing density. Some phytoplankton also avoid sinking by forming large chains.
How does phytoplankton affect coral reefs?
Located at the base of the marine food web, phytoplankton support the functioning of coral reef ecosystems (Genin et al., 2009, Wild et al., 2008, Wyatt et al., 2010, Yahel et al., 1998), providing a source of food for many coral reef-associated organisms, including zooplankton, benthic grazers such as sponges (e.g., …
How does ocean depth affect photosynthesis?
As depth increases, light intensity decreases until there reaches a depth where photosynthesis can no longer occur (Figure 7.3. 1). The region through which sufficient light for photosynthesis can penetrate is called the photic or euphotic zone, which extends down to about 200 m (section 6.5).
Are phytoplankton in the deep ocean?
As photoautotrophs, phytoplankton are generally present in the euphotic zone of the ocean, however, recently healthy phytoplankton cells were found to be also ubiquitous in the dark deep sea, i.e., at water depths between 2000 and 4000 m.
What part of the ocean is the most productive biologically?
coastal upwelling areas Although they occupy less than two percent of the oceans, the coastal upwelling areas in the eastern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean are among the biologically most productive marine areas worldwide. They not only support a large biodiversity, but also provide 20 percent of the world's fish harvest.
How does water depth affect phytoplankton?
The depth at which primary production equals respiration is called the compensation depth. Above this depth, phytoplankton can make a living; below this depth, they cannot and either die or go into a resting stage to await better light conditions. They can live but cannot grow or reproduce.
Can phytoplankton survive in deep ocean?
As photoautotrophs, phytoplankton are generally present in the euphotic zone of the ocean, however, recently healthy phytoplankton cells were found to be also ubiquitous in the dark deep sea, i.e., at water depths between 2000 and 4000 m.
In which zone of the open ocean would you find the most organisms that eat phytoplankton?
Plankton are primarily found in the epipelagic or photic zone, the area in the open ocean from the surface down to 200 m (650 ft).
Why do phytoplankton live in the photic zone?
Planktonic aquatic organisms such as phytoplankton, are shallow water creatures; they are restricted to the photic zone in oceans because growth is totally dependent upon photosynthesis.