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Spring Plankton

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How many kinds of spring plankton are there?

Simone Welch's picture
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Spring Plankton

That is a great question!  I will let you know soon.  I'm leaving for the boat in 19 days and counting! :)

Simone Welch's picture
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Spring Plankton

Scientists on this boat, generally collect samples from 25-40 identifiable types of plankton!

Simone Welch's picture
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Spring Plankton

Scientists on this boat, generally collect samples of 25-40 identifiable types of plankton!

Simone Welch's picture
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Spring Plankton

There are a few different kinds of nets in use on the boat.  They all have funny names like Bongos (which look like bongo drums) and Calvets (which look like a pair of pants).  The nets are lowered overboard into the water then drawn up slowly.  The contents are then analyzed on board.

Simone Welch's picture
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Spring Plankton

You are right- this is caused by a specific type of plankton, dinoflagellates.  A red pigment in their bodies causes the surface of the ocean look red.

Simone Welch's picture
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Spring Plankton

Hi Danny!

You can attract zooplankton with light only under very calm conditions.  Plankton is only able to migrate vertically though, not horizontally.  In other words, coming up from the bottom is possible but otherwise motion is dictated by the movement of the ocean.  The various nets that the scientists collect the plankton with have very fine filters that catch all sizes and types of plankton pretty effectively without have to attract them. Keep writing!

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Spring Plankton

Hello!

Thank you so much for following my journals!  There were so many good signs to choose from that I had to narrow them down to my favorites. Thank you for the link also. :)  

Best,

Simone

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Spring Plankton

Hi again- Check out the 4.11 post about Calanus.  Calanus are copepods, fairly large zooplankton.  I included a picture in this post.  It should be up on Monday!-S