...it’s what we are here to study. Well, more so, the amazing world that lives in the water that is mostly too tiny to see with the unaided eye.
Phytoplankton comes from the Greek words phyton meaning “plant” and planktos meaning “wanderer” or “drifter” So, there is no coincidence we are drifting out here, in the North Atlantic, with so many amazing wanderers who seek to understand what they cannot easily see. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton are responsible for much of the oxygen present in the Earth’s atmosphere and half of all photosynthetic activity on Earth. And when you put them under a microscope—they are beautiful—stunning, really! They play a huge role in sustaining the aquatic food web which, in some ways, helps sustain our role on this planet. Thank you to Stephen Bennet for the beautiful virtual images he created to help us bring this fascinating world to life and to Ben Knowles, who’s excitement and commitment to his craft is contagious. I could listen to this man talk about plankton and the community they exist in--all day.
1 Comment
10/9/2018 02:22:32 am
I am very sorry, but these tiny creatures are the reason why I am scared of the ocean. I am thalassophobic and it means that I am afraid of the ocean, specifically, I am afraid of encountering sea creatures. The Phytoplankton and other living organisms under the ocean gives me anxieties because I cannot see them, and some of them are still not discovered. I really hope that I can overcome this fear. Again, I apologize for not appreciating the beauty of Phytoplankton.
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