Hey there, ocean explorers! 🌊 Did you know there’s a hidden kingdom beneath the waves, full of tiny creatures that are super important for our planet? They’re called plankton, and even though we can’t see them with our eyes, they’re heroes of the ocean world! 🦠✨
Recently, scientists from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a cool gadget called the Imaging Plankton Probe (IPP). This amazing tool helps us see these tiny life forms in their natural home with super clear pictures! 📸🔬
Let’s dive in and meet some of these incredible plankton friends!
Copepods
Ever heard of Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants? 🦐 That little villain trying to steal the Krabby Patty secret? He’s based on a real ocean creature called copepods! They might look like tiny cockroaches, but they’re actually colorful and super important. They are food for many fish, so without them, our favorite seafood dishes wouldn’t exist! 🍤🐟
Noctiluca scintillans
Have you ever chased “blue tears“? 🌌✨ Along some coastlines at night, the waves glow like stars! This magical glow is created by tiny plankton called Noctiluca scintillans. They light up when the water moves, making the sea look like it’s full of shimmering lights. But watch out! When there are too many of them, they can harm other sea creatures.
Echinopluteus Larvae
Sea urchins are those spiky things in the ocean, and some people even eat them! 🌊🌰 But have you seen their babies? The larvae float in the ocean and help scientists understand ocean currents. They’re like tiny GPS trackers, showing where the water is moving!
Dolioletta gegenbauri
These jelly-like plankton might look like candy, but they’re superheroes in capturing carbon! 🍬🌱 They eat lots of tiny plants in the water and help lock away carbon, which is good for fighting climate change.
Diatoms
These plankton have shells that look like glass! 🐚✨ Species like Coscinodiscus and Hemidiscus come in amazing shapes and patterns, like tiny works of art. They help produce oxygen and are a big part of the ocean’s food chain.
Phaeocystis globosa
These plankton can form brown blobs that look like popping pearls. 🟤🌊 When they grow too much, they can make the water unsafe for fish and other animals.
Jellyfish
You’ve probably seen jellyfish before! 🪼 They might be see-through and have stinging tentacles. When too many jellyfish gather, they can cause problems for power plants and fishing areas.
Creseis acicula
These are tiny creatures that look like clear pencils! ✏️🌊 They like warm waters and can grow quickly when the temperature is right, sometimes causing issues for fish and plants.
Trichodesmium
These plankton look like little bundles of straw or badminton shuttlecocks! 🏸 They can fix nitrogen, which helps in nutrient-poor areas of the ocean.
Radiolarians
These are microscopic creatures with amazing glass-like skeletons. 🔍💎 They help scientists learn about ancient oceans by studying their skeletons in the sea floor!
Acetes
These tiny shrimp are see-through and are often used in soups! 🍲 They are important food for many fish but can cause problems when there are too many of them.
Isn’t the ocean world fascinating? 🌊 From tiny glowing plankton to miniature sea creatures that help us fight climate change, there’s so much to discover beneath the waves. Thanks to the Imaging Plankton Probe, we can now see and learn more about these incredible tiny heroes of the ocean! 🦠💙
Reference(s):
Invisible kingdom beneath the waves revealed by Chinese ocean mission
cgtn.com
