Plankton - it's everywhere! 🌊
Plankton includes a large range of organisms defined by their ecological niche - they drift! Photosynthesizing plankton is responsible for an estimated 50% of global O2 production, as well as carbon uptake and sequestration, and planktonic species play an essential role as base of the ocean's food web. Dive into these nonfiction books about plankton to be surprised at how diverse and fascinating all of these organisms are! Brought to you by none other than Plankton itself!
created by Plankton
last updated May, 2026
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For those new to studies of plankton - a quick guide on what plankton is and what it is not!
Plankton includes organisms from species across all the major biological kingdoms, ranging in size from the microscopic (such as bacteria, archaea, protozoa and microscopic algae and fungi) to larger organisms (such as jellyfish and ctenophores). This is because plankton are defined by their ecological niche and level of motility rather than by any phylogenetic or taxonomic classification. The plankton category differentiates organisms from those that can swim against a current, called nekton, and those that live on the deep sea floor, called benthos.
There is phytoplankton, which synthesize their own food through photosynthesis, and zooplankton, which predate and eat other life forms.
Plankton can be categorized by: habitat (freshwater, ocean, air, terrestrial) taxon (animals, protists, fungi, prokaryotes, viruses) size and trophic mode
Planktonic organisms have a central role in the food web, oxygen production and other biogeochemical areas.
I hope you enjoy this list - feel free to ask me any planktion-related questions, I'd be happy to answer them!
I love that Plankton made a list for plankton. This is perfection ✨✨
PlanktonOP
Thank you! I realized there was none and I had to fill in this major gap! 🥹🥹
Thank you for this list. My father would love these books and now I got some recommendation for his birthday. And also, why do these covers look so cool?
PlanktonOP
Ahh you're welcome! So happy to hear that this will be useful for your father's gift!! And I agree, the covers are so pretty🥹✨️
