Food ChainsFood Chains

PlanktonPlanktonWhy are they so important?Why are they so important?

PLANKTONPLANKTONComes from the Greek word “Comes from the Greek word “planktosplanktos” which means drifting” which means drifting

• Plants - Plants - PhytoPhytoplanktonplankton• Animals – Animals – ZooZooplanktonplankton

PHYTOPLANKTONPHYTOPLANKTON• Float near the Float near the

surface surface • Most can’t swimMost can’t swim

• Make their own Make their own energy through energy through photosynthesisphotosynthesis

• Food for zooplanktonFood for zooplankton

• Beginning of the food chain

PHytoplanktonPHytoplankton• Can change the Can change the

color of the color of the waterwater

• Large number of Large number of Plankton in one Plankton in one area.area.

• Called a Called a BLOOMBLOOM

PHytoplanktonPHytoplankton• Where you find Where you find lotslots of of

plankton:plankton:• Ocean provides large amounts of Ocean provides large amounts of

nutrientsnutrients

• Where you find Where you find littlelittle plankton:plankton:• Poisons in the water orPoisons in the water or• Changes in water temperatureChanges in water temperature

• colder water has more nutrientscolder water has more nutrients

FishermenFishermen• Look at ocean Look at ocean

color images color images to find areas to find areas rich with rich with phytoplanktonphytoplankton

ZooplanktonZooplankton• Animals that either Animals that either

don’t swim or are don’t swim or are very weak swimmersvery weak swimmers

• Some are eggs or Some are eggs or larva of animals that larva of animals that will one day become will one day become nekton nekton (animals that (animals that swim freely)swim freely)

Zooplankton• Varying sizes, but Varying sizes, but

some are quite large!some are quite large!

• Zooplankton feast on Zooplankton feast on the phytoplankton… the phytoplankton… and sometimes other and sometimes other zooplankton!!

• Let’s Create a Let’s Create a Plankton

FFood d chain G Gamee• PRODUCERS: PRODUCERS:

• PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton

• CONSUMERS:CONSUMERS:• 11stst- Zooplankton- Zooplankton• 22ndnd- Nekton- Nekton• 33rdrd- more Nekton- more Nekton

• DECOMPOSERS:DECOMPOSERS:• Primarily bacteriaPrimarily bacteria

Food WEBSFood WEBS• Have many Have many

Food Chains Food Chains in themin them

• Can you Can you decide who is decide who is a producer, a a producer, a consumer, consumer, and a and a decomposer? decomposer?